Editorial: Let’s see where they would cut

Friday, Jan. 31, 2003 | 4:28 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: Feb. 2, 2003

Gov. Kenny Guinn has explained that raising taxes is the only realistic way to close state government's two-year $700 million budget deficit. The Republican governor has noted that he streamlined state government during his first four years in office and that his proposed two-year budget has been trimmed back as far as it could be without jeopardizing essential services.

Many Republican legislators, however, still cling to the fiction that a significant increase in taxes can be avoided as long as reductions are made to what they view as a bloated government. We'd like to see exactly all the programs they'd like to slash and eliminate that could erase the $700 million deficit. Most state agencies are barely getting by as they try to meet the needs of the nation's fastest-growing state -- others face an impossible task in living up to their missions.

To get an idea of how just one agency is faring during this budget austerity, the governor is recommending a significant reduction for the Nevada Division of Investigations, an important resource that provides assistance statewide for major investigations involving murder, sexual assault, child abuse and narcotics. In the 79-employee division, Guinn is proposing that 39 positions be eliminated. Those jobs lost will come from the anti-drug trafficking unit that serves Carson City, Lake Tahoe and rural areas of the state.

It's a sad commentary that something as important as fighting the flow of illegal drug trafficking doesn't get the support it deserves -- but that also can be said for public education and for agency after agency in state government. Still, it would seem harsh to criticize Guinn for what he has proposed in light of the political realities he's facing. After all, we already know how loud the howls have been so far from some Republicans over what Guinn conservatively has recommended -- imagine their outcry if he had proposed more spending. For that matter, we haven't seen too many Democrats racing to raise taxes more than Guinn has proposed. Nevertheless, as more details of the governor's proposed budget emerge, if anything it is becoming obvious that more money is needed, not less.