Lewis Jordan, the Executive Director of the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority, has been granted a four-year contract that makes him one of the highest-paid public officials in Clark County, with a base salary of $355,000.
The decision to approve Jordan’s contract was not without debate among the agency’s board of commissioners, leading to a contentious meeting before the approval was secured on Thursday.
Commission Chairman Tick Segerblom emphasized the responsibility that comes with such a substantial salary, urging Jordan to put in considerable effort during his upcoming term.
“This is a huge amount of money, so you’ve got four years. You’re gonna have to work your ass off,” Segerblom stated.
The nine-member board, which includes five elected officials, faced scrutiny regarding the level of pay for Jordan, particularly from several commissioners who initially championed a performance-based component in his compensation.
Commissioner Larry Blackman voiced concerns that the contract could represent an effective pay cut compared to what other agency employees might earn based on performance metrics.
Despite these concerns, Segerblom and Commission Vice Chair Nancy Brune countered that Jordan’s compensation was justified given his significant contributions.
In the end, the board settled on a 5 percent wage increase retroactive to January 3, raising Jordan’s salary considerably since his hiring in 2022.
According to Brune, Jordan’s current earnings are approximately 40 percent higher than when he first took on the role, indicating that his salary now exceeds that of many city managers.
In addition to his base salary, Jordan’s contract also includes an auto allowance of $1,000 per month along with annual cost-of-living adjustments and merit-based increases.
His performance-based salary increments will rise to 3.75 percent starting with the second year of his contract, up from the initially proposed 2.5 percent.
Jordan has decided not to take any bonuses in conjunction with the contract agreement.
Brune drew some comparisons during discussions, noting that Clark County School Superintendent Jhone Ebert, who manages a larger workforce and budget, earns a base salary of $385,000.
Brune argued that the proposed increase for Jordan is not only reasonable but reflects a necessary adjustment given that he has not received adequate compensation in light of his performance in office.
Moreover, she indicated that the housing authority director in Houston, managing a comparable, if not larger, budget and number of units, earns significantly less at $278,000.
With this contract, Jordan’s earnings will nearly match those of Clark County Manager Kevin Schiller, who received a base salary of $363,000 last year.
In contrast, Chad Williams, the previous executive director of the Southern Nevada housing authority, earned a significantly lower base salary of $153,000 in his final year in 2020.
The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority operates with a budget of approximately $200 million, providing services to around 17,000 residents.
Many board members agreed that Jordan has made substantial progress in improving agency morale and securing large financial grants during his tenure.
However, Segerblom also expressed worries regarding potential federal budget cuts that could impact the agency’s funding in the future, particularly under the administration of President Donald Trump.
Overall, Jordan’s more than four decades of experience in public and private management, including his previous leadership role in Marin County, California, has positioned him as a seasoned executive in the housing sector.
Following the vote, Jordan expressed his gratitude, stating, “I thank you all. I thank the community, staff for this vote of confidence, and looking forward to, as the chair said, ‘working my behind off,’ so we can achieve the things that this great community deserves.”
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