County leaders say they didn't have to negotiate with the union that represents 154 prosecutors because no collective bargaining agreement was formed, just a resolution.

But a union representative says the county is legally obligated to bargain before changing the pay structure.

"They can't just do it unilaterally," said Chris Owens, a chief deputy district attorney and a negotiator for the Clark County Prosecutors Association.

Owens said the prosecutors understand the county's financial plight and were willing to make concessions. The union made a dozen offers to reduce their pay raises and the county rejected all of them, he said.

However, Don Burnette, the county's chief administrative officer, said none of the offers would have reduced the cost-of-living increases to 1 percent for the year.

He questioned why prosecutors, who are among the county's highest-paid employees, refused to make the same concessions as rank-and-file workers in the Service Employees International Union, especially when the county faces a $50 million-plus shortfall.

The lowest prosecutor's salary is $67,000 and the highest is $172,000, counting longevity pay. The average pay for attorneys in both private and public sectors of the county is $118, 500, according to state employment data.

Owens said the county never made a counteroffer but simply imposed its will.

"We asked, 'What do you want us to do?' " Owens said. "They wouldn't tell us."

Contact reporter Scott Wyland at swyland@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.