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Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008 | 2 a.m.
Projections show the state budget heading for an immediate shortfall of more than $500 million, and, with a national recession looming, the long-term outlook is even more bleak.
A public debate about Nevada’s future is urgently needed, and we hope our cover story today highlighting comments by Nevada’s former governors will help get it going.
Each of the governors Republicans Robert List and Kenny Guinn, and Democrats Richard Bryan and Bob Miller talked about the state’s nation-leading growth and its No. 1 challenge how to pay for it.
The essential problem is that people who have moved to Nevada and those who are on their way require more state services than they and tourists pay for through existing taxes.
We were interested to hear the governors say this fundamental truth is not a Democratic problem or a Republican problem, but one in which all Nevadans should assist in finding a solution.
To that end, the consensus among the governors was that state leaders need to be more open about sharing the facts with their constituents. There was agreement that most voters are initially reluctant to go along with proposals for new or higher taxes. But there was also agreement that Nevadans will ultimately do what’s right for their state if government leaders fully explain the needs and invite citizen participation as solutions are sought.
Also agreed on was that governors today should not, as Gov. Jim Gibbons did in his campaign last year, promise to never raise taxes. A better approach for governors is to simply face reality, and, through consensus building, work closely with taxpayers during budget crises.
There is much to be learned from the governors’ comments. They know growth will always be a challenge. But if their vision comes to pass a state whose leaders work realistically, openly and cooperatively on long-range plans the challenges will be much less apt to become crises.
All governmental offices should open the discussion to those of us who have a stake in their votes - the taxpayers. Open government is a cornerstone of democracy and anything else is a dictatorship.
Are you hearing that Gov. Gibbons?
Too bad that the initiative to legalize and tax the heck out of marijuana did not pass last time. I would much rather have the potheads paying taxes rather than paying drug dealers.
Sounds much more palatable to me than raising my property taxes (Which are already amazingly high) or instituting a state income tax.
I think the revenue that that proposal would of generated would be insanely vast and that is not counting the trickle down effect of tourism. Nevada would essentially become the Amsterdam of the western hemisphere.
I think it's kinda funny that in a state thats famous for 24 hour drinking, gambling, and legalized prostitution that something as basically harmless as marijuana is illegal particularly when we look at the potential revenue that it would generate.
I would love to see a public debate. But would all the questions be allowed in a free forum?
Here's some:
Why did Guinn not support the states only aviation resource to fight wildland fires in the state during his administration?
Why did the Guinn administration allow the federal government to barr state pilots from flying on state and federal land in 2005 without an investigation?...important question!
Why were the citizens never informed about the situation for their public safety?
Why did Gov Gibbons sell the only state owned fire fighting aircraft at public aution in May 2007?
Why is the state using inmates to do mechanical repairs on of helicopters? (pic on NDF website)
Is this all due to poor government management or just lack of funding?
The plane that was eliminated from the state's fire fighting program was a Piper Cheyenne. (pic on web site) Extremely valuable for the use in all air attack procedures. All viable programs contain a least one plane. (check any state) After 20 years, Nevada can no longer afford to own (1) fire fighting plane!