Elko County imposes hiring, wage freeze due to shortfall
Monday, April 17, 2000 | 9:28 a.m.
"This county is approaching a financial crisis like it has never seen before," Commissioner Tony Lesperance warned.
The hiring and salary freezes should save $208,287 and another $100,000 will be saved through a reduction in the contingency fund, the Elko Daily Free Press reported.
Other cost-cutting moves were discussed, but commissioners still need to find an additional $400,000 or more in cuts to meet state guidelines for a balanced budget.
County Manager George Boucher attributed the shortfall to a variety of factors, including an economic slowdown, a mining slump, rising salaries and legal battles against the federal government over environmental issues.
Elko County has been involved in an ongoing fight against the U.S. Forest Service over the fate of a short, unpaved road leading to a wilderness boundary near Jarbidge.
"It's an accumulation of a number of things," Boucher said. "You can't hang it on one thing and say this is the cause."
At a meeting last week, commissioners agreed to keep the county tax rate the same, but asked for a 2 percent across-the-board reduction in department budgets.
When one department head asked where he was expected to make cuts, Lesperance replied, "Turn the heat down in the building."
Commissioner Brad Roberts said a sales or property tax hike would be "just a Band-Aid on a major hemorrhage."
Boucher said economic diversification efforts remain important because mining "has always been a boom-and-bust deal."
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Sarah Palin wasn’t a disaster, but Obama is
- CityCenter’s Mandarin Oriental makes Vegas debut
- Kimbo Slice not enjoying cutting weight for first time
- As national jobless rate improves, LV sees signs of trouble
- AG says any Station Casinos trustee must be licensed by regulators
- Kruger may soon seek more disciplined shot selection
- Pacquiao-Mayweather fight on, March date likely
- Del Sol seeks upset against powerhouse Bishop Gorman
- Jim Gibbons vs. Harry Reid: Health care plan ignites dispute
- Sub-freezing temperatures hit Las Vegas
Blogs
Elsewhere
Rampage Jackson to return to UFC (2 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Superintendents want state to immediately seek Race to Top funds
Top Chef: Las Vegas
The great Jennifer debate (1 Comment)
The Kats Report
From Eva Longoria Parker to a cluster of execs, crowd takes a shine to Crystals (2 Comments)
Elsewhere
Harry Reid's recipe for getting health-care deal done (9 Comments)
UNLV in at No. 11 in SI's college hoops power rankings (3 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Episode 13: A few good chefs
Calendar »
- 5 Sat
- 6 Sun
- 7 Mon
- 8 Tue
- 9 Wed
-
Chickenfoot at The Joint
The Joint | 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale at the Pearl
The Pearl at the Palms | 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
Great Santa Run at Town Square
Town Square | 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
-
Willie Nelson at Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts
Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino | 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Cash'd Out at Aliante Station
Aliante Station Casino and Hotel | 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Brooks & Dunn at the Hilton
Las Vegas Hilton
-
Ron White performs at the Mirage
Terry Fator Theatre
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati












