Tight budget expected to pass

Friday, May 17, 2002 | 9:35 a.m.

North Las Vegas' 2003 budget will stay flat, city officials said.

The North Las Vegas City Council is expected to approve a tentative budget after a public hearing at 4 p.m. Tuesday at North Las Vegas City Hall.

State law requires that cities and counties have their budgets approved by June 1.

"The city's financial picture will be much tighter next year," city Treasurer Clarence Van Horn said.

There is no hiring freeze and there are no tax increases proposed, Budget Manager Mario Garcia said.

"It's pretty much a hold-the-line budget," Garcia said.

Mayor Michael Montandon, who along with the rest of the council has been briefed on the financial picture, said he was pleased.

The city expects to spend $251 million, about a 10 percent increase over this year's expenses, Garcia said.

North Las Vegas currently has 140,000 residents and should have 141,000 by the end of 2003, Garcia said. "Of course, over the year things could go up, or things could go down," he said.

Every city in Southern Nevada felt the economic slowdown from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he said. "The slowdown didn't last too long," Garcia said.

Projects such as the North Valley Enterprises development of 1,900 acres of formerly federal land and new casino projects in the city are helping to boost revenue, Garcia said.

A technology corridor has been created along Cheyenne Avenue that is already attracting interest, said Michael Carroll vice president of development for Jackson-Shaw, a city consultant.

There will be a total of 45 full time-equivalent employees added to the North Las Vegas payroll. Each position will be reviewed separately before hiring.

Most city employees belong to a union, so they get a cost of living raise.

Two-thirds of the city's budget covers public safety programs and staff, such as fire and police protection, the detention center and the courts, Garcia said. That's about $165.6 million.

"People are concerned for their safety and the budget reflects that," Garcia said.

Between $94 million and $96 million has been set aside for capital improvements in the city's budget.

One of the major projects set for completion by the end of the year is Fire Station 55, with a 15-person crew near Lone Mountain Road between Martin Luther King and Decatur boulevards.