The New Bell CA: City Of Las Vegas Politicians Just Don't Get It

In 2007, just as the recession was hitting Las Vegas the City of Las Vegas council critters voted themselves a raise. Not a little raise, mind you, but a huge raise, from about $50,416 to $72,004. Almost a $20,000 per year raise for a part time job. in addition, the next mayor of Las Vegas will be getting a raise fro, $66,233 to about $130,000.
From the LVRJ:
Elected officials routinely struggle with thorny issues, but those seeking Las Vegas City Council posts next year will face one right off the bat: How much they're paid.
The issue has extra significance because most city employees have given up raises and even taken pay cuts to help the city make ends meet during the recession, while an ordinance passed in 2007 means the next council representatives from Wards 1, 3 and 5 will get raises.
Of the confirmed candidates so far, two said the raise is justified if council members treat the position as a full-time job while one person said the raise shouldn't be implemented.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/council-pay-issue-looms-111715424.html
So, you about 15% unemployment in the Las Vegas Valley, City of Las Vegas workers jobs are being cut and they are getting pay cuts. So, naturally, the Las Vegas council members think they deserve a $20,000 raise or roughly a 30% pay increase. This is on top of the other benefits the members get, like health care and money paid into the state pension fund.
Yes, the raises were voted on in 2007 or 3 years ago and just before the big recession hit government. However, they also could have rescinded the raise as well and they have not done that.
Talk about being tone deaf. City of Las Vegas council members just don't get it and when I think about this, I think of Bell, CA, when the powers in charge robbed the city blind with huge, unjustified pay raises.