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Fri, May 9, 2008 (2:01 a.m.)
Nine months before the 2009 Legislature is scheduled to convene, with nearly a billion dollars in state programs guillotined and a commission now chartered to recommend even more reductions, the governor met with lawmakers this week to discuss — what else? — more cuts for next year.
As a potential summer special session looms to roll back teacher and state employee raises, as transportation projects are delayed (mostly in Southern Nevada) and as the economy shows no signs of being wheeled out of the ICU, understand where we are, folks: The state that ranks near or in the cellar for most of the important indexes of a civilized society is about to find a new nadir.
The perfect storm cliche is overused — guilty here, too — but this truly is a case of a governor responding to a torrent of problems by leaving the public exposed, plucking everything from the populace down to the last umbrella. That’s what it will come to if this continues — both the economic slowdown and, more insidiously, the mind-set.
The lawmakers who met personally or via teleconference Wednesday with Gov. Jim Gibbons and his staff were treated to a bleak picture of Session ’09 — one in which $800 million may have to be cut over the biennium. That would translate to a 14 percent across-the-board cut if that were the chosen option, or even greater, as much as 22 percent, if K-12 were exempted.
Perfect storm? This is Katrina-like devastation, and like New Orleans, the state would never get back to its previous, paltry levels.
Other possibilities for saving money were raised, too, during the meeting with GOP and Democratic leaders, including repealing state employee cost-of-living raises. That could happen as soon as this summer at a special session. But when other possibilities were hinted at — you know, Governor, something other than not funding the state’s basic needs because of a meaningless and anachronistic mantra — they were met with the sounds of silence from Gibbons. Hello darkness, my old friend.
The Wednesday meeting was not about a fait accompli — still a lot of months of revenue numbers to come in before the session begins, and across-the-board cuts have not been decided on — yet. But the budget needs to have its foundation built during the summer, so Gibbons was warning lawmakers about the potential dire straits yet to come. He is wise to again bring lawmakers into the loop, but will they hang themselves with it or wrap it around the governor’s neck?
We may see the first indicator, if indeed there is a special session this summer after some undoubtedly ominous revenue figures come in about three weeks hence. I can’t imagine the Democrats will simply stand by as co-conspirators and allow that to happen, especially because a majority of those COLAs go to teachers. I cannot imagine lawmakers would rubber-stamp any gubernatorial decision in that hypothetical (for now) special session, depending on what the agenda is and how far Gibbons wants to go.
The coming crisis will either be exacerbated or ameliorated by the new panel Gibbons officially signed into existence this week, one that will be populated by businesspeople eager to do what businesspeople always say they can do — make government run more like ... well, you know the rest.
Chairman Bruce James, whom I met with this week, wants to make the “SAGE” Commission a success, finding the obvious waste and trimming it, but then embarking on a fundamental paradigm shift in how government operates. Where have we heard that before? The result will greatly depend on the rest of the panel’s appointees — they will need some strong Southern Nevadans because so far the governor, the chairman and the executive director are all from Northern Nevada.
But James, who reformed the U.S. public printer’s office, understands politics well enough and knows how to streamline even better. But all he can do is recommend, and after he is done, we will see what SAGE this really is — The Spending and Government Efficiency Commission or The Seek and Gut Everything Commission.
With continued chatter about a schools adequacy lawsuit coming soon and the feds always sniffing around about how Nevada funds its prisons and social services, now would not seem the most propitious time to go about $2 billion backward.
If that occurs, to invoke the hackneyed phrase again, the ending for the state will be the same as for the boat in “The Perfect Storm.”
Discussion: 8 comments so far…
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Thank God, Governor Gibbons has appointed a commission to cut the fat. Let's start with the overpaid government employees and their lifetime healthcare and retirment benefits for retiring at
50. There's plenty of oink there!
As they say in football "Push 'em back, push 'em back WAAAAAY BACK!!!!!"
WoohOOO, between this commission and the ballot initiative to require a 2/3 vote to raise new taxes and this awesome governor who despite everything is keeping his commitment to the taxpayers who elected him instead of the unions
who are insatiable in their grab for our money,
we have a fighting chance. GO JIM GIBBONS, YOU ROCK!!!!
Helen,
I think you must have failed math. In order to retire at 50 with 30 years of service, one would have to hire in at 20 and stay with that job for 30 years.
Most government employees are college graduates having spent from age 18 until at least the age of 22 in college full time.
How many people at the age of 22 know what they want to do for a living until the age of retirement?
Add to that time off to have children which does not accumulate time toward retirement and other FLA time off.
Add to that never leaving public employment in the same system. No career movement at all. Staying with the up and down years of government - no COLA or merit increases some years.
Conservatives have made an enemy of anyone who works in the public sphere. Why not go after other groups instead? Like doctors - they make a lot of money and live in big fine houses and get paid from all sorts of government programs?
Lumping all of YOUR problems on to the backs of public employees only shows your ignorance.
Keep spouting that tired old conservative mantra Helen, keeps you busy - you know... idle minds....
Go JUICE go!!! Unfortunutely, many reflect Helen's view of public employees - and, yes a small minority of public employees are worthless and their jobs should and can be eliminated - but only a very few. What state government needs to do is "work smart." One thing the governor could do - is resign and the legislature can sell that overpriced mansion in Carson City. Hey that's a savings of $300K a year. Just for starters. Maybe Helen would be interested in living in Carson City where she could take on these state employees every day. She'd be a real hit at all those retirement parties, don't you think?
Interesting to me how everyone complains about overpaid government employees. The complaining about should start at the top with the people that do make all the money and benefits that Helen is talking about. Remember it starts at the top and rolls down except when it comes to taking away raises and benefits. Then it starts at the bottom (the people that need it the most) and never ever makes it to the top.... This is true in the public or private sector. And Helen, you must not have worked very long or at all because everything you mentioned happens in both. What about the armed services? Retire after 20 and most go in at about 18 to 20 years old. Are you going to complain about that too? Police and Firefighters can retire after 20 years also. More complaining?
Look from the top down not the bottom up and you might have some eye opening experiances.
How's about the Gang of 63 vote to secede Clark and Nye?
I'm sure the North would have a grand old time with itself, proudly the 47th most populous state in the country. They can have their libertarian selves and never, ever raise taxes.
And the south can get on with growing up.
RIGHT ON "ImTellinYa" - people like Helen have no idea how hard the training and work is for our military, police and fire - and how few can actually make it 20 years and retirement!
I've actually had people say to my face, "Well, you're awfully young to be retired (as if my life no longer has any value)" and had the arrogance to ask "So, what does it cost us taxpayers to support you (as if military retirement or disability pay is some sort of unearned welfare)?"
And I'd like to point out that military benefits are about half of what our civilian peers get and police and fire retirements are much lower than their peers as well!
What the hell is wrong with these NO TAXES idiots that actually think the sewage systems, roads, streets, highways, lights, water systems, and fire, safety and police services are free? It's no wonder we're so far behind the power curve in maintenance of our state and national infrastructure?
Nor do people like Helen realize that sometimes, no matter how smart and hard one works, they become disabled and our society must help them out - and this can happen to anyone! Sooner, or hopefully later, everyone becomes old, ill and dies - usually very slowly!
We have way too many selfish, greedy, stupid, idiotic, radical, right-wing, neo-con, nut-case Republicans in power that just don't get it - and that is because they are sociopaths and not capable of compassion - they just don't care! I say, after nearly 30 years, it's way past time to VATBO (Vote All These Bums Out)!
When Nevada had 300,000 people in 1960, casino and other tax revenue seemed to keep everything going.
Now we have almost 2.5 million people and our dependence on sales and gaming taxes is really going to bring us to our knees. Energy costs are going to hurt every state dependent on tourists. The new slogan should read - What can't get to Vegas, can't spend money in Vegas.
We need a small income tax and a very small sales and business tax. This would provide stable funding for police, fire, education, prisons, etc. Government is not free or cheap, when will people realize this.
As a State Worker, i can tell you it's no Picnic because our Retirement (Pers) is Funded mainly by the State Workers, like a 401k plan, we pay into it, or take a Voluntary Reduction in pay.
The Retirement incentive is SOOOOO GREAT that only 1.54% of the workers in my Field (Corrections)Actually manage to do the 25 years needed on average to retire, and then need to go find another job, so they can actually Afford to live in the State. Oh, and we don't get Social security either, since we don't pay into it.
And our Health plan on retirement? try $300 a month, plus another $300 a month for your Spouse, and that comes out of your retirement check, and forget it if you want to move elsewhere, it won't cover you.
Our Jobs are so Great that we have anywhere from 20-30% Vancancies and thats with a high unemployment Rate right now, due to our low pay, Abusive supervisors, idiotic Governor (Who by the way had indicators of the worsening budget crisis prior to him being elected, much less before he submitted the Budget bill).
Of Course, People like Helen like to rage about all the injustices, like bad roads, Lack of Teachers, Long Lines at the DMV, the welfare Dept., Etc., she just expects the Fairy Godmother to pay for them.