Failing schools would get help

Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005 | 11:12 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Pay raises for government workers, an extra $100 million to help failing public schools and a beefed-up plan for economic development in Nevada are included in Gov. Kenny Guinn's proposed $5.7 billion two-year general fund budget.

There are new programs for suicide prevention and problem gambling and some major increases in money for mental health and prison programs in Southern Nevada.

The governor's total two-year spending program is $15.8 billion including state and federal funds and other fees and revenue, 19.1 percent more than the current $13.4 billion biennial budget.

Guinn outlined his 2005-2007 budget in his State of the State address to the Legislature Monday night, saying it keeps up with the fast-growing population and health and education needs.

Guinn's proposal sets aside 53.2 percent of the state-funded budget for public schools and the University and Community College System of Nevada; 28.8 percent for human services; 9.2 percent for public safety; and 8.8 percent for the rest of government.

If all goes according to predictions, the state will have $151.8 million in its required general fund balance on June 30, 2007. And Guinn proposes to put $79 million into the state's "rainy day" fund to bring the balance to $200 million as a "safeguard the next time our economy slows down."

The governor is suggesting that $300 million be used as a rebate of up to $300 on each vehicle owned by a Nevadan.

The budget calls for 2 percent pay raises for schoolteachers, university officials and state workers. And there are additional 10 percent raises for direct-care nurses as well as for law enforcement officers who work for the state prison system and the Nevada Highway Patrol.

State employees sought a 5 percent raise in each of the next two years. And the state Board of Education recommended an annual 3 percent for teachers.

The Guinn administration said teachers, represented by their union, will be able to negotiate for higher pay with the local districts.

The governor is also recommending issuance of $100 million in bonds to keep the financially troubled Millennium Scholarship program afloat until at least 2015.

A signature part of the governor's budget is $50 million a year to be allocated to failing public schools. He said there are 122 schools classified as failing and another 99 schools on the warning list. Each of these schools would have to write a correction plan to qualify for the money.

These schools also would be evaluated after one and two years to see if they are making progress. The schools would be able to use the money for such things as all-day kindergarten or more training for teachers.

The state's basic support per student would rise from the current $4,360 to $4,431 over the next biennium. Nearly $10 million is included for the purchase of educational technology equipment.

Guinn also wants to continue handing out $2,000 signing bonuses to each new teacher and $50 per student to school districts for textbooks and computer equipment.

The budget sets aside $10 million for the University of Nevada School of Medicine to build a medical research facility in Reno to link its work with the Nevada Cancer Institute in Las Vegas. The school of medicine would receive $4.5 million for 40 new residency and fellowship programs.

Guinn also wants to provide $800,000 in the 2007 fiscal year to help staff the Lou Ruvo Center for Alzheimer's Care and Research in Las Vegas.

Another $10 million would go to the economic development authorities in Las Vegas to lure new industry to the state. And $1 million is set aside for similar programs in rural Nevada.

With voter approval to increase taxes in Clark County for the hiring of more police officers, the state budget recommends $20 million to reopen and hire 237 staff at the Southern Nevada Correctional Center at Jean, now being used as a detention camp for females.

Guinn's budget also allocates $58.6 million to build three more units at High Desert State Prison in Clark County to accommodate 600 more inmates. Some of the out-of-state inmates being housed in Nevada are to be sent back to their home states to make room for the expected increase.

More money is slated for mental health. Guinn is asking for $100 million in new money for mental health spending.

The current $59 million budget for the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services in Southern Nevada would go to $74.6 million in the first year of Guinn's budget and then would increase to $98.9 million.

Groundbreaking is next month for a new 150-bed mental health hospital in Nevada and Guinn wants to add $11 million to that project to expand it by 40 beds. The budget also calls for $4.3 million to keep using the 28 beds that were reopened in the old mental health care campus.

Also under Guinn's budget, a $1 million mental health clinic would be started in Laughlin.

The budget also calls for $300,000 to hire a statewide suicide prevention coordinator to start an awareness and prevention program. And the budget includes $200,000 to start a program to help problem gamblers.

Opportunity Village in Las Vegas would receive $1 million to help it build a new southwest campus in Las Vegas. Guinn also is recommending $7.6 million, of which $2.4 million is state money, to expand the Nevada Check-Up program from 27,000 to 30,000 children of parents who are just above the poverty level.

By taking advantage of a federal program, the state would expand medical coverage to pregnant women who are above the income level to qualify for Medicaid. There would also be a $100 monthly subsidy for some workers of small employers.

The Senate Finance Committee and the Assembly Ways and Means Committee will start hearings today on the Guinn budget. The full Legislature meets Feb. 7.