Nye County approves 90‑day hiring freeze, exempts public‑safety positions

Pahrump, Nev. — The Nye County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 3 approved a temporary hiring freeze that will hold newly vacant positions open for 90 days, a measure officials said is intended to protect county reserves as the new fiscal year begins.

What passed: By vote of 5‑0, commissioners authorized a 90‑day freeze on filling vacant positions through the end of fiscal year 2026 (June 30, 2026) and authorized the county manager to waive the freeze for critical positions on a case‑by‑case basis. Commissioners and staff specifically exempted first‑responder positions for sheriff and fire services from the freeze.

Board rationale: County staff and the county manager presented the freeze as a short‑term fiscal control to avoid deeper measures — such as layoffs or furloughs — if fund balances decline. “We are very lean right now,” the county manager said, noting union negotiations and possible contingencies that could erode ending fund balances.

Public safety concerns and exemptions: Sheriff Joe McGill and other public speakers urged caution about a broad freeze. “When we lose people, we have to replace them. … We need more people in our department,” Sheriff McGill told the board, describing frozen positions that limit the agency’s ability to hire qualified applicants. Nye County Assessor Sherry Stringer and others also asked for shorter timelines for certain licensed roles; Stringer said licensing requirements for appraisers make those vacancies harder to fill.

The board addressed those concerns by clarifying that department heads can request exemptions for critical positions; commissioners further instructed that first‑responder roles (sheriff, fire and emergency services) would be treated as critical and exempt from the general freeze.

Operational impacts discussed: Directors and public commenters warned that unpaid but unfilled positions can increase overtime costs and strain remaining staff, particularly in licensed technical roles such as appraisers. Public works and other departments noted that some positions are difficult to recruit and that a freeze should not prevent internal reclassifications or temporary reassignments when appropriate.

Outcome and follow up: The county manager will have authority to waive the 90‑day rule for critical positions; staff were asked to refine definitions for ‘‘critical’’ and to develop processes to request waivers. Commissioners also discussed better forecasting (a ‘‘realization matrix’’ suggested by one member) to understand payouts and long‑term vacancy liabilities.

Ending: The board framed the measure as a temporary, fiscal‑management tool while acknowledging valid operational challenges for public safety and licensed positions. County staff were directed to balance fiscal protection with operational exemptions and clearer waiver processes.