SLT council gives Kerry two-step salary increase

By Kathryn Reed

South Lake Tahoe City Manager Nancy Kerry on May 19 received a glowing review from the City Council.

“She is really one of the best city manager’s in the state,” Mayor Hal Cole told Lake Tahoe News. “If anyone deserves a raise in this community, she does.”

Nancy Kerry

Kerry, who has officially had the job since fall 2012, will receive a 4½ percent raise immediately and 2½ percent in one year. Altogether this will put her at about $185,000 a year, which is what former City Manager Tony O’Rourke was making when he left. He also had other perks like a car allowance that she has always refused.

She has a five-year rolling contract.

Cole praised Kerry’s ability to save the city about $52 million through changes to employee benefits and dealings with the now defunct Redevelopment Agency.

“The city would be in much worse condition if she were not here,” Cole said.

Cole said he is an advocate of merit raises – which this is – and not cost of living adjustments.

In the past Kerry has turned down raises the council offered.

“I wanted to take the time to prove myself and for the council to feel comfortable that I earned it,” Kerry told Lake Tahoe News.

Kerry is making a name for herself in the state with the changes she has brought about in South Lake Tahoe. The governor asked the League of California Cities to create a task force to deal with employee benefits. The league appointed her to the task force.

Kerry has also been asked to speak at the league’s annual conference in the fall about the employee and retiree benefits. She put together a panel who will speak to that topic.