Editorial: Time to go to school

Monday, April 30, 2007 | 7:37 a.m.

Legislative leaders are giving Gov. Jim Gibbons a lesson in Budget 101 and trying to teach him how foolish he was to pledge he would not increase any state tax or fee.

Last week Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, a fellow Republican and someone who certainly is a fiscal conservative, sensibly voted in favor of raising a state fee to pay for increased regulation of private postsecondary schools and of letting some rural counties and the Washoe County School District raise taxes.

Unfortunately, the rookie governor hasn't listened when both Republican and Democratic leaders have said the budget is insufficient to pay for the necessities in state government. And the financial picture continues to worsen. The state Economic Forum, which tells the Legislature how much money it can put in the budget, is expected on Tuesday to find that tax revenue will fall at least tens of millions of dollars short of expectations.

Early in the legislative session Gibbons said he would veto any fee increase, even those created solely to pay for industry regulation, but as the session has progressed his position has softened slightly. Last week he told the Associated Press that he was "disinclined to support new fees" but would consider any measures the Legislature passes.

"Most taxpayers get a little discouraged about seeing taxes and fees in the state being continually raised," Gibbons said, adding, "The public expects us to be responsible legislators and governors."

Responsible, however, means facing reality and raising fees and taxes as appropriate to build new roads and ease gridlock, pay for education, and provide for the essential government services that Nevada desperately lacks. It is time for the governor to learn that.

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