Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Friday, Jan. 16, 2009 | 2:08 a.m.
Thursday night was Gov. Jim Gibbons’ opportunity to lay out his two-year vision for Nevada. The problem was that any semblance of vision was nowhere to be found in his State of the State address to lawmakers in Carson City.
In just about every category — what the state spends on education, the size of the state government’s workforce, the services the government provides its residents — Nevada ranks near or at the bottom in state-by-state comparisons.
But do such dismal rankings bother our governor? Not at all. Gibbons is obsessed with keeping his no-new-taxes pledge, which means massive reductions in spending — all so he can placate the right-wing, hate-everything base of the Republican Party that helped elect him.
If the state were simply to cover the cost of maintaining services at existing levels, it would require a two-year budget of $8.1 billion. But Gibbons will seek a budget of just slightly more than $6 billion.
The state’s contribution to public schools would be reduced 2.6 percent under Gibbons’ proposed budget, and higher education would be decimated, with a reduction of about 36 percent. Gibbons also will seek to cut by 6 percent the salaries of state workers and teachers.
Nevada’s growth certainly isn’t what it once was when it was the fastest-growing state in the nation, but the needs are still increasing and, in light of the recession, the demands being placed on government have never been greater.
Gibbons’ proposed two-year state budget shows, yet again, why he has no business being governor. That, of course, shouldn’t come as a surprise.
But having someone such as Gibbons at the helm of state government, at a time when the state is facing the kind of economic crisis not experienced since the Great Depression, is terrible. This is when we need a governor who is flexible and innovative. Instead we have a governor who is dogmatic and incapable of acknowledging that a different perspective exists and deserves to be heard.
We would be remiss if it wasn’t mentioned that Gibbons played a large role in poisoning the well when it comes to providing needed government services. During the mid-1990s, when the anti-tax hysteria was omnipresent, Gibbons orchestrated passage of an initiative that changed the Nevada Constitution, requiring a supermajority (two-thirds) vote in the Legislature to raise taxes.
Gibbons’ predecessor (and fellow Republican), Kenny Guinn, knew what it takes to be governor. Guinn was a fiscal conservative, but he understood in 2003 that the state needed to raise taxes to properly fund services and that doing so outweighed taking the politically safe course. It also should be remembered that Gibbons, at the time a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, criticized Guinn’s proposed tax increase as unnecessary.
Although Gibbons and his fellow travelers on the right wing aren’t willing to do something to reverse the state’s rudderless and backwater course, that doesn’t mean nothing can be done.
Democrats control both houses of the Legislature, and have a veto-proof majority in the Assembly. The Democrats’ majority in the Senate is slight, but there are a number of Republicans in the upper chamber who are responsible and understand that state government, our public schools and higher education can’t withstand further cuts. It will require bipartisanship that we haven’t seen in decades in Carson City for state lawmakers to cobble together a budget that actually meets the needs of Nevadans and, just as important, has enough votes to override a Gibbons veto.
Still, political pressure will be brought to bear by right-wing talk radio and conservative fringe groups to kill any attempts to overhaul or restructure our rickety tax structure, one that has no place in 21st-century Nevada.
This state is not the one that existed 100, 50 or even 10 years ago. The current tax structure simply doesn’t bring in enough revenue — and hasn’t done so for years — to provide the services that Nevadans require in today’s world.
Our elected leaders in Carson City need to stop obsessing about the next election and think about the long term. We are at a crossroad, and now is the time for bold leadership, leadership that sets aside petty partisan differences and does what’s right for Nevada — for today and for the future.
I would gladly pay a state income tax if everyone paid.
Why should teachers and state workers bear the brunt of our poor tax system?
We all need to step up to the plate.
..But not until business takes on their share of this responsibility.
Business owners keep threatening to go elsewhere if they have to pay taxes.
It's like saying they will take their ball and go home if you don't let them win the game.
We are all in this together.
You know I'm not even from Nevada but I know what I've heard - you people have the second-worst governor in America, right behind Illinois.
This guy's gotta go.
Unfortunately, the author's comments are so blatantly liberally soured that the message fails to achieve its intentions.
While obvious the state is staring at a significant shortfall, most governors are in a similar situation: How to raise revenues without adversely impacting a population already experiencing a significant shortfall themselves.
I'm quite certain that if Gov. Gibbons announced intentions to increase taxes, our author would have maligned the governor for being unsympathetic to an increasingly unemployed population that is unable to support such revenue strategies.
No one likes paying taxes. But, I believe that most Nevadans would support an equally increased burden after a thorough restructuring of our budget that rids itself of obvious excess and allocates financial support to necessary programs that are critical for our state's progress.
That being said, I am also looking forward to the seemingly necessary "bipartisanship that we haven't seen in decades in Carson City." Wouldn't that be nice.
Which businesses are these that are going to leave if they are taxed higher? Mining? That's not logical. The materials they want from the ground are here; it's not like they can get these just anywhere. And even if the materials are available in some other places, it would not be cost effective to just up and relocate. There are survey, drilling, and a host of related costs. So, who else is going to leave? Casinos? You think all of these people or corporations who forked out millions and billions of dollars in these mega buildings are going to just go into foreclosure or something? They are still quite profitable enterprises. So, if we raise taxes on these two entities alone, will they really just up and leave?
Instead of constantly picking on state workers - especially teachers - why not start doing something genuinely constructive and going after the politicians who are in the pockets of these two industries? The failings of this state can hardly be blamed on the fact that I collect a pension that won't even sustain me in retirement.
Parsing through the budget numbers
Counting federal and other funds such as highway collections, Gibbons is presenting the 2009 Legislature with a $17.3 billion biennial budget or just 0.9 percent lower than the 2007-2009 fiscal year spending program.
Of the $17.3 million $6.17 million is for the Nevada executive budget.
The executive or general fund budget included $546 million in revenue increases like room taxes.
Gov. Kenny Guinn June 7, 2005, applauded the 121-day effort of the Nevada State Legislature, which approved the Governor's less than $6 billion executive budget and included passage of the Governor's $300 million rebate to the citizens of Nevada.
The 2007 Legislature approved a State General Fund operating budget for the 2007-2009 Biennium of approximately $6.8 billion. This was a huge 14% increase and was based on unsustainable revenue projections. Through a series of cuts the 2007-2009 has been reduced by more than $1 billion to less than $6 billion.
Thus the 2009-2010 $6.2 billion budget represents an increase from the current year working budget.
Nevada's population is static or declining so a growth in service is not needed.
Looks like the budget size is just right.
I cannot believe I moved here. I have kids that have, thankfully, graduated from this system except for my freshman. How can Las Vegas show their face to the country??
Im embarassed for this city. I could go on & on but, ONE school district all the past Indian Springs?? Surely someone must step in and do something...HOW ABOUT WYNN?? He watches the same news broadcast as us..how can he just sit there. (I do, however appricate what he does do) PLEASE HELP! Teachers dont even get computer paper!! Not to mention text books!?
Well, Im off to Kmart to make my donation to my kid's teachers in hopes they will still be there next week.
Some of the lowest paid teachers in the nation. Some of the lowest property taxes in the nation. Hmmmm. Seems to me the answer is obvious.
Damned if he does damned if he doesn't right?
Last year the Sun hit Governor Gibbons for proposing across the board cuts. This year he goes in and methodically raises and lowers spending based on his priorities.
I guess because he didn't increase spending 20% over last year you all must be ticked off.
"Some of the lowest paid teachers in the nation."
Teacher salaries in Nevada are ranked 25th in the nation.
In some states, they are laying off teachers or planning to layoff teachers.
The governor's budget highlighted his "Education First" agenda, Patrick.
Reduce Education First, that is.
Per pupil funding? Will be worst in the nation
Teachers' salaries? Chop 'em!
Higher Education? Eliminate a university
If you add up the 51% cut to general fund expenditures to UNLV and the 47% to UNR, he has basically eliminated funding one of our universities. Funny how the Governor from the North cut UNR less... even though I'm pretty sure UNLV has more students.
But you're right, he did "methodically" raise and lower spending based on his priorities. His first priority was to gut education.
He keeps telling us he was elected on campaign promises, but his campaign slogan, "Education first" apparently doesn't count to NPRI.
I'm done.
He's an idiot - he has to GO!
The average cut in take-home pay per state employee under this plan is $5500 a year (between cutting pay and raising benefit costs). Nearly 1/3 of the workforce in the northern half of the state works FOR the state. Guess what? You take away that much of their salary, they aren't gonna spend much. And that will make the problem worse.
Closing 8 out of 20 mental health clinics? Increasing patient loads for staff at the remainder? Guess that means more panhandlers on the streets, or more zombies because the staff will just shove anti-psychotics on them.
Gutting UNLV and UNR? Tell me, how will you get an educated workforce for all the energy projects Gibbons wants if you drain resources from the very institutions they would get that education from? And if you jack up tuition to cover the difference, why stay in-state for college?
Oh, but he doesn't want to unfairly balance the budget on the backs of the people. Guess what? HE BALANCED THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF A SMALL SEGMENT OF THE PEOPLE!
Fortunately, our Great State has strong legislation leaders who will not let this happen to the People of Nevada and our Future. Gibbons Sick proposed plan will be veto by the legislative lawmakers in Carson City, when it goes to the table. Gibbons is not a leader, and only thinks about his arrogant narcissicst self.... Sick Sick Gibbons...
Perhaps Green Valley Ranch Casino can increase its gaming tax voluntarily to pay for some of the cuts.
I have a daughter who is a senior at UNR. She does not plan to stay in Nevada after she graduates next May. She is coming back to the Pacific Northwest.
Our state is subject to Initiatives, (People Powered) and sometimes that is how we can work around the Governor and Legislators when something is proposed that is so aggregious regarding K-12 and Higher Education. WE actually passed an Initiative to raise our teachers salaries, yes we the people.
Maybe your Governor could find ways to cut HIS office operation budget and HIS transportation budget.
Maybe he could bring a sack lunch and provide HIS own way to work. He could sell the Governor's Mansion, use the money to help fund Education, I mean after his divorce who needs that big of house. Governor Gibbons could live in a condo, better yet get a mobile home like former Gov Mike Huckabee and park it on the capitol grounds.
If state worker's salaries are going to be cut by 6%, why doesnt Governor Gibbons TAKE a 6% salary cut. Or could it be since he has a few lawsuits pending, plus a nasty divorce case coming up, that maybe he'll need every penny you Nevadans make.
I'd like to thank Governor Flaming Thumbs for BREAKING his no new taxes pledge. By taking state employees 6%, he has shown that he is truly owned-lock stock and barrel-by the gaming and mining industries. I used to have a fantasy that If I ever won one of those super mega lotteries, that I would buy myself a senator or a governor. Now, I just have pure contempt for the bungholes who have made the governor their little plaything.
Imagine that....raising taxes on a small part of Nevada, so that the rest may profit. I seem to remember the Governor pledging NEVER to do that. Then again, he was referring to his masters-gaming and mining.