Spending stimulus money

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009 | 2:06 a.m.

Now that money from the economic stimulus package is coming to Nevada, it is important that the process for deciding how to spend those funds is as transparent as possible. The public has a vested interest in knowing not only how the money is being spent, but that it is being used wisely.

That certainly applies to the $201 million Nevada is expected to receive for transportation projects. Although this amount represents a drop in the bucket when compared with the billions of dollars needed in this state to build roads and overhaul existing ones, it is still a significant amount of money. In addition to improving roads, the money will create jobs, which was a major thrust of the stimulus bill.

Nevada Transportation Department Director Susan Martinovich told reporter David McGrath Schwartz for a Thursday story in the Las Vegas Sun that she is developing a list of road projects that would be eligible for the money. She said most of those projects would involve repaving roads.

We agree with Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, and Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, who told the Sun the Nevada Legislature should provide oversight to ensure the road spending process is transparent. Still, we hope this doesn’t become a turf battle between the legislative and executive branches. Now is the time for cooperation.

With no signs the economy is getting any better, we urge lawmakers and the governor’s office to work together so this money can be spent as soon as possible.