County to shoulder more of Metro budget

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004 | 9:34 a.m.

Clark County will increase its funding of the Metro Police budget by 1.6 percent beginning July 1 due to the county's increasing demand for police services, officials said Monday.

Metro's financial oversight committee, comprised of city council members and county commissioners, approved the new funding formula Monday.

The change will cost the county about $4 million, Karen Keller, Metro's finance director, said at the meeting.

The formula is based on year-to-year changes in city and county populations, felonies and calls for service in each area.

Las Vegas' overall percentage share of the budget is expected to decrease based on the funding formula.

The county commission and city council are expected to decide whether to approve the formula in February. Metro's budget for 2004 fiscal year should be finalized within the next several months.

Metro's total budget for the current fiscal year is $235 million.

The funding formula shifts every fiscal year. Last year, Las Vegas increased their funding of the department while Clark County decreased its funding because of crime patterns and changes in population.