Editorial: Program has value beyond bottom line

Friday, July 12, 2002 | 9 a.m.

A pilot program funded by the 2001 Legislature was almost scuttled this summer by state administrators looking to save money in the face of a looming $250 million budget deficit. Legislators had authorized spending $500,000 to help mentally ill people who are among Southern Nevada's homeless population. After pressure applied by Assemblywomen Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, and Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, the program is now back on track and may be under way by fall.

In authorizing the program, the Legislature estimated that more than 2,000 mentally ill people are on the streets in the Las Vegas area. The program will have two main goals. One, salvage as many of these lives as possible, first by identifying them and then by offering treatment. Two, ascertaining the scope of the problem for a report to the 2003 Legislature, which will then have solid information upon which to base future funding decisions. There's an added benefit. If Southern Nevada voters in November approve a property tax increase estimated to generate $4 million a year for a homeless trust fund, and the Legislature subsequently imposes the tax, information gleaned from the pilot program will help when it comes to deciding how best to spend the money.

With its potential for turning around so many lives, we agree that this is one of those programs that must go forward despite the need for spending cutbacks elsewhere.