AG warns against budget cuts at workers’ expense

Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2000 | 10:47 a.m.

Controlling government expenses shouldn't come at the cost of government employees benefits and pay, Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said Monday.

Del Papa spoke at a meeting of the Governor's Steering Committee to Conduct a Fundamental Review of State Government, a committee which Gov. Kenny Guinn hopes will help shave millions off the state budget.

But Del Papa warned that the state is already losing experienced employees because of relatively low pay and benefits. Sometimes the employees are leaving for the private sector, but often they are simply going to other government agencies at the county or city level, she said.

The problem is particularly acute in Southern Nevada. The cities of North Las Vegas, Boulder City and Henderson not only offer better pay and benefits, but also have four-day work weeks, Del Papa said.

The problem is not just in the legal arena but in government agencies across the board, Del Papa said.

"We really have got to come to grips with the salary structure for all state employees," she said.

Del Papa said she will ask the Legislature to give executive offices more flexibility with their budgets. That way, money could be transferred to an office that needs it for hiring or maintaining workers.

Denice Miller, steering committee chairwoman and Guinn's senior policy advisor, agreed that the loss of workers is a problem.

"The state serves as a training ground, a very expensive training ground, for public sector employees," Miller said.