Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

IBLV editorial:

Get efficient

Consolidating county and city governments is a good start

As Clark County and Las Vegas navigate through rough waters created by the effects of the economic recession, both would be well served by taking time to reexamine whether they are doing the best job possible to represent the public’s interest and to deliver services in the most efficient manner.

One of the best ways to deliver services more efficiently would be to combine the county and city into a single government entity. Denver and San Francisco are examples of locales that have done this successfully.

It doesn’t make sense to have separate parks, planning and public works departments. A consolidation also would eliminate the need for a new City Hall.

Another concept that would make local governments more efficient is to give them home rule instead of having to rely on the Nevada Legislature, which meets every other year, to approve issues that ought to be handled locally. In the past the Legislature has gotten involved in debates over towing regulations, park-naming rights and numerous other matters that could have been addressed by the city or county.

Something else that would benefit the public interest is to have full-time elected officials who would be paid better than they are now. As of now, Clark County commissioners and Las Vegas councilmen are paid part-time salaries.

On the surface, having part-time elected officials would appear to save taxpayers’ money. But maintaining part-time positions requires many of these elected officials to hold outside jobs, which leaves them open to conflicts of interest. Southern Nevada’s growth has also made city and county government more complex than it was years ago, which has placed more demands on elected officials.

Having full-time elected officials, consolidated government and home rule are three of the best ways the public can be better served.

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