Local news briefs for May 16, 2003

Friday, May 16, 2003 | 11:43 a.m.

RTC budget will rise by 93 percent

The Regional Transportation Commission board approved a new budget Thursday that includes a 93 percent increase, reflecting expected new revenue and new capital investment to be approved in Carson City this month.

Ingrid Reisman, RTC spokeswoman, said the budget increase from $241.1 million to $464.8 million includes $150 million in debt service for transit system investment.

Clark County voters last year approved a 25-year, $2.7 billion infusion into the road-and-bus service agency. Many of the projects, including expansion of the existing bus network, are fast-tracked to begin in the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1. Reisman said the $150 million reflects bonds that will be sold on the expected revenue from the tax package, which depends mostly on a sales tax increase.

The transit budget, which includes bus service drivers and maintenance, will grow from $88.9 million to $108.5 million, in part to restore service cuts made over the last year to stem a projected budget deficit.

The vote by the RTC board was 8-0 for next year's budget.

Biker hit by car is identified

The parents of an unidentified and unconscious 12-year-old boy who was hit by a car reported him missing about 6 a.m. today, Henderson police said.

Police and hospital personnel didn't know the identity of the boy until this morning, when his parents called police because he hadn't come home, police said.

About 3 p.m. Thursday a red compact car struck the boy as he rode a red Rhino mountain bicycle near Brown Junior High School at the corner of Pueblo Road and London Street in Henderson, Shane Lewis, Henderson Police spokesman, said.

The child was was in critical but stable condition this morning.