LV trims capital projects to fit a strained budget

Judy Odierna

Thursday, April 24, 2003 | 9:11 a.m.

The reconstruction of the Mirabelli Community Center, the construction of the Charleston Heights Neighborhood Preservation Park and the construction of a pool and bathhouse at Freedom Park are among the Las Vegas' capital improvement projects given high priority for funding in the coming fiscal year.

The City Council went through about 27 projects that would take more than $126 million to fund at Wednesday's budget workshop. They detailed why particular projects warranted attention over others in a tough budget year. The city can only afford to spend a maximum of $55 million on capital improvement projects and may need to keep the total price tag as low as $35 million, city officials said.

"There are city residents in their 40s who utilized (the Mirabelli Community Center) while they were kids in the community," said Councilwoman Lynette Boggs Mcdonald as she supported the center's reconstruction near Jones Boulevard and U.S. 95.

City staff will take the narrowed list, which cut out 10 projects, and return to the May 20 budget hearing with another list detailing what the city can afford.

"There isn't sufficient funding for all the projects that the council indicated they wanted to come back," said Mark Vincent, director of finance and business services.

Prior to the council going over the list, City Manager Doug Selby explained that the projects won't require a lot of city spending on operations in the years to come.

"We want to maintain an active capital construction programs," Selby said. "It creates jobs for architects, engineers, trade people and vendors, but we want to focus on construction programs that don't cause an incremental increase in our operational costs."

New projects that won't get through this year include a park at Bradley Road and Grand Teton Drive, an equestrian park at Bradley Road and Horse Drive; and the design for a regional fire training center.

City staff told the council that they have hit tough economic times. They showed several cuts and additional revenue services that they have worked on to bring down an $8 million deficit to about $1 million.

Metro Police initially requested a budget of $116.5 million, a $28 million increase over 2003, but that was slimmed down to $9.9 million. Between contributions from Clark County and Las Vegas, Vincent said the addition gives Metro a total of $3.8 million for new positions and expanded programs.

Additional cost saving measures include a hiring freeze for all nonessential positions and a year's suspension of the city's quarterly newsletter. Requests for special events will now go through the city manager's office and so will out of state travel requests.

Though property taxes will not be raised, residents that do not have septic tanks could see an increase in sewer fees. Currently, homeowners pay about $140 annually for sewer service. If the increase is approved, they would see that raised by $40 to $50 a year.

The sanitation fee raise would bring in more than $2.5 million. The budget also includes fee increases that target development, which could bring in an additional $1 million.

Vincent said the city's tough economic times are do to a minimal increase in the consolidated tax base, which accounts for 48 percent of the city's revenue. The consolidated tax base represents the sales, cigarette, liquor and motor vehicle privilege tax revenues collected by the state and distributed to the counties and cities based on a five-year formula that considers assessed valuation and population. Property taxes make up about 20 percent of the revenue.