Las Vegas’ new budget favors taxpayers

Erin Neff

Wednesday, April 26, 2000 | 10:42 a.m.

Las Vegas residents should get two wishes out of the next city budget -- no new taxes and a plan to make growth -- not them -- pay for growth.

The tentative fiscal year 2001 budget unveiled during a City Council workshop this morning tops out at $658 million, including the operating general fund of $323 million.

Public safety expenses of more than $176 million comprise 57 percent of all general fund appropriations. The bulk of that, $78.9 million, funds Metro Police, with another $52.6 million earmarked for the fire department.

Metro is asking the city for an additional $4.8 million this fiscal year. Other increases to this year's budget include 46 new positions and higher salary and benefit costs.

Beyond the numbers, the budget includes a proposed Development Services Enterprise Fund to cover the current Building and Safety Department.

The fund is designed as a self-contained way to see expenses and revenues related to development.

"What we're saying is the developers ought to pay for all of the development we provide," city Finance Director Mark Vincent said.

Clark County has a similar enterprise fund. The Development Services Enterprise Fund will be similar to the city's Sanitation Enterprise Fund.

Another budget initiative is the proposed increase in certain planning-related fees.

For example, the city currently charges $450 for an applicant trying to rezone a parcel of land. The estimated cost to the city, however, is $622 plus additional expenses for required notification and signs.

Reno charges $1,618 and Henderson charges $520 for the same service. The planning department is recommending increasing the current $450 fee to $1,200.

Another thing Vincent is trying to do with this budget is to tie the budget directly to activities, and not to people or departments.

This "activity-based costing" is borrowed from the private sector and will enable the council to see exactly what city services are driving costs.

The budget also includes $22.7 million for various park projects but leaves another $75.5 million unfunded.

Among the projects earmarked for funding are the Northwest Golf Course at $8.5 million, renovations of Doolittle Center for $3.5 million and a park at the Gowan Avenue South Basin for $4.5 million.