Governor to address state on TV tonight

Monday, Jan. 22, 2001 | 11:03 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The time has come for Gov. Kenny Guinn to deliver on promises he made two years ago.

Guinn gives his "State of the State" message at 6 tonight to the Nevada Legislature and to a statewide television audience. He will outline his priorities in a $3.74 billion budget, a 17 percent increase from the present biennium spending program.

His priorities, he has said, are education, health and pay for state workers. The current budget calls for 55 percent of the state's general fund to go to education from kindergarten through college. He has said he hopes to increase that percentage.

He has talked about health programs, raising the daily grants for foster parents, improving care in nursing homes and taking care of senior citizens.

The governor has stressed he wants a pay raise for state employees and faculty in the University and Community College System of Nevada. State agencies have experienced a high turnover in some jobs, as workers leave for higher paying jobs in Clark and Washoe counties and some municipalities.

The State of Nevada Employees Association wants a 5 percent raise this year and 3 percent next year. The Nevada Correctional Association, which represents employees at the prisons, wants a 30 percent increase over the next two years.

Two years ago the governor promised the "most fundamental review" of state government in history. A task force has put together a laundry list of proposed changes, and Guinn will have his chance tonight to show he's committed to altering the face of government.

His administration has already asked for a bill to be drafted to separate the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, an idea that has been proposed several times in the past and always rejected by lawmakers.

He also promised in 1999 to "address the long-term needs of public school funding."

He says his budget will be balanced and he will not call for any tax increases. But he has stopped short of saying he would veto any tax increase approved by the Legislature. His budget, he said, is different that in the past. He did not automatically increase each agency 3 percent to 5 percent. This time the budgets were flat.

He told agency heads that if they wanted a new program, they would have to pay for it from existing revenues. He used the extra money available for his priorities.

Two years ago he called for making the medical system of the state prison private, a plan the Legislature rejected. Guinn may not repeat that suggestion, since those in charge at the prison have held down the health care costs.

Besides the $3.74 billion operating budget for the coming two years, Guinn will have $150 million to $200 million available in surplus money for so-called "one shot" or non-recurring expenses. He has said he wants to put $50 million of that into education for textbooks, technology and continuing tutorial programs for students who test low.

Another $50 million would be set aside for health, such as the troubled senior citizen prescription drug program, long-term care and mental health program. And $50 million would go for buildings, equipment and technology upgrades.

The Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means committees will begin their review of Guinn's budget Tuesday. The two committees will hold two weeks of joint hearings to get an overview from the agencies on the spending program.

The full Legislature convenes Feb. 5 for 120 days.