Nevada ranks worst in shortfalls expected to hurt public schools

Benjamin Grove

Thursday, Nov. 19, 1998 | 11:21 a.m.

Nevada more than any other state should beware of state budget shortfalls hurting schools.

That was the finding of a study released Wednesday by the National Education Association. The study ranked states according to their projected budget shortfalls and listed Nevada No. 50.

According to the study, Nevada in the next eight years expects 18.3 percent less tax money than projected.

Iowa fared best with 2.7 percent more money than projected at the end of eight years.

The NEA is a powerful 2.4 million-member organization that lobbies for school interests. Its study suggests budget shortfalls could translate to less money for schools.

"As a result of these structural deficits, many of the nation's priorities for improving public education, including smaller class sizes, modern schools, and ensuring the quality of teachers may be in jeopardy," NEA president Bob Chase said in a released statement.

Gov. Bob Miller on Oct. 26 ordered a state hiring freeze for most state agencies, citing "potential for a very serious economic problem" because tax revenues have slowed in the last two years.

Collections from state sales and gaming taxes have come in lower than expected compared with last year, which also fell short. Projections called for a revenue increase of 6 to 7 percent over the 1998 fiscal year. The actual increase has been 4 percent.

So far, those numbers have not effected the state's schools. The State Department of Education has not directed Nevada's 17 school districts to make cuts. Also, the state hiring freeze does not include teachers, even though school districts are funded in large part with state money.

The Clark County School District is still trying to fill about 150 teaching positions, many of them in special education, said Clark County Schools personnel director George Ann Rice.

The NEA study notes that most of the states facing budget shortfalls have no state income tax, including Nevada.

"I really read this as a critique of the current tax structure and not a cause for alarm," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mary Peterson.

Peterson said she has faith in state lawmakers who will haggle over how to spend state dollars in the 1999 legislative session, beginning in January.

"People have made education their No. 1 issue of concern," Peterson said. "I would hope that (lawmakers) don't forget that No. 1 issue when they return to Carson City."

School district chief financial officer Walt Rulffes agreed.

"We have to assure the legislators that accountability in the public schools is there," Rulffes said. "We have to clearly establish that we are being as effective as we can with our resources and are dealing productively with the problems people see in K-12 education. If we communicate that effectively, I think we can look to the Legislature to sustain funding."