North Las Vegas parks to get a big boost from next city budget

Diana Sahagun

Wednesday, May 24, 2000 | 10:37 a.m.

The upcoming North Las Vegas budget will bring $2 million in parks and recreation improvements and 10 more police officers to the city.

In the budget recently approved by the City Council, both the parks and police departments were given more than $2 million each over their regular budget for 2000-2001, which begins July 1.

The city distributed $14.5 million in supplemental money to 17 departments. That money will be used for programs not covered in the annual operating costs. Some $25 million had originally been requested, City Finance Director Vytas Vaitkus said.

Much of the $2.2 million given to the parks department will go toward improvements at Prentise Walker Park, Flores Park, James K. Seastrand Park and other parks in District 3, the area north of Cheyenne Avenue.

New picnic tables, soccer field equipment, park lights and other supplies will also be purchased.

And $300,000 is earmarked for the architectural design of a future park near Craig Road and Ferrell Street. Eric Dabney, former parks director and now director of administrative services, said the city hopes to buy a 16-acre site by July 1.

The last park to be built by the city was Theron Goynes Park in 1998. The James K. Seastrand Park, built by Pardee Co., will open in July.

The parks department's budget for this year is 5 percent of the city's $76 million general fund.

The city's total budget for all funds is $165.9 million for fiscal year 2000-2001, which begins July 1, compared with $169.8 million last year.

The city's general fund, which covers most city services, including administration, rose 4.1 percent from last year, Vaitkus said. Part of that surplus comes from an increase in property tax and sales tax revenues.

Mayor Michael Montandon sees the increase in the general fund as a sign of positive growth.

"It factors in well, in that we've had an upturn in commercial development which has a positive effect on your budget because it increases the revenue side but not expenses," he said.

Montandon added that the city will continue to see an increase in revenues and that taxes will not be raised in the future.

This budget also does not include a tax increase.

"That isn't on the mind of anybody here," Montandon said. "We believe the revenues will be there to get us the things we need."

The police department, which was given $2.2 million in additional funds, will use the money to buy eight motorcycles, nine other vehicles, a copy machine, 25 computers, a computer program and printers. It will also fund eight additional staff members among other items.

The Safe Streets 2000 bill, which increased residents' property taxes in 1998, and a public safety bill levied in 1996 are expected to bring in $10.6 million to pay for 10 new police officers and four community service officers.

That falls in line with the city's goals for Safe Streets 2000 to hire more officers.

The city staff will grow by 33 new people, including two building inspectors and six detention officers.

The cost of salaries and benefits make up almost one-third of the total budget -- $80 million of $165.9 million.

At the end of this fiscal year a cushion of $5.8 million is expected to be left over.

That total, Vaitkus said, falls in line with a resolution the council adopted in 1997 stating that the ending balance should stay within 3 and 8 percent of the city's general fund.

"The ending balance level will serve us well," Vaitkus said. "In a sense I wish we had more, but it's a good number."

Diana Sahagun covers North Las Vegas for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-2320 or by e-mail at diana@lasvegassun.com