CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — The Nevada attorney general's office says unless specifically authorized by lawmakers, boards and commissions are not allowed to pay their directors and legal counsel more than 95 percent of what the governor makes.
The Nevada Appeal reports Deputy Attorney General Tiffany Breinig released the opinion at the request of Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval after an executive branch audit showed several boards paying salaries significantly higher than the $141,867 salary received by the governor.
Auditors in June found the pharmacy, medical, contractor's and accountancy boards all paid their executive directors significantly more than the governor's salary.
The opinion states the governor has both the responsibility and the authority to direct fee-funded boards and commissions to comply with the 95 percent rule.