carson city:

Gibbons won’t propose ideas to fill growing shortfall

Published Tuesday, March 17, 2009 | 7:03 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, March 18, 2009 | 7:57 a.m.

Gov. Jim Gibbons

Read the letter from Gov. Jim Gibbons

Gov. Jim Gibbons told legislators he will not provide them with proposals to fill a budget hole, in the latest testy feud with Nevada legislators.

Gibbons responded to a letter that Assemblyman Morse Arberry sent after the state's budget director testified earlier this month that there was a growing deficit in the budget Gibbons submitted to the Legislature on Jan. 15.

"The Nevada Constitution requires that I propose a balanced budget to the Legislature," he wrote. "Once that budget is proposed, it is up to the Legislature to decide whether to accept or modify that budget."

Gibbons said revenue projections will constantly change, and he will only submit budget amendments to address federal stimulus dollars or after the Economic Forum meets May 1.

While Gibbons' budget balanced out when he submitted it on Jan. 15, his office later revised revenue projections from a room tax increase, creating about a $60 million hole in the budget. Gibbons also reversed course on a plan to that would have gotten the state $31 million, by making casinos pay taxes when they issue credit, instead of when they collect it.

Arberry, D-Las Vegas and chair of Assembly Ways and Means for the past 15 years, wrote back a scathing response.

"I am truly amazed with your assessment that the Governor's responsibility ends when the proposed budget is submitted for review by the Legislature," he wrote. "I believe you are the only Governor in at least the past 30-40 years that would make such an assertion."

He said waiting until May 1 to make budget adjustments is "unrealistic."

"If any budget amendments that you choose to submit are received too late in the process, the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means will be forced for the first time in my 15-year tenure as chairman of the committee, and possibly the first time since Nevada became a state, to make decisions without further input from the Governor."

Josh Hicks, Gibbons' chief of staff said the governor "simply indicated that he was unwilling to make ad hoc recommendations."

He said they would submit a budget amendment soon for the stimulus and then again after new revenue projections in May.

"Any recommendations will incorporate and address the most recent revenue projections from the Budget Office," he wrote in an e-mail message.

Discussion: 11 comments so far…

By gmag39

3/17/09 at 7:16 p.m.

Suggest removal

"Leave me alone now. I must go home & tighten my neck bolts".
By Future2012

3/17/09 at 7:34 p.m.

Suggest removal

Why do the lawmaker need input fro the Gov.

They refuse to listen to the Gov.

They ridicule any proposal of the Gov.

"Once that budget is proposed, it is up to the Legislature to decide whether to accept or modify that budget."

The Legislature has no spending plan

The Legislature has no taxing plan.

9 weeks and counting to the big Legislature surprise.
By afveteran

3/17/09 at 8:17 p.m.

Suggest removal

Shocker.
By Scott

3/17/09 at 10:15 p.m.

Suggest removal

Here we have a governer trying to do what he was elected to do, which is keep taxes low.

The legislature can propose whatever they want, let them bring up a state
income tax for the children, then see them be voted out.
By ksand99

3/17/09 at 11:06 p.m.

Suggest removal

Scott: Then why won't the Governor grow some cojones and call for more cuts?

Why is he afraid?

The truth is: he just doesn't care anymore. He's ineffectual and irrelevant, and is finally owning his role.
By avatar

3/17/09 at 11:43 p.m.

Suggest removal

Can't wait for Nevada to cry out for teachers and they won't come! Your kids, grandkids, and or college student has to join a lottery to get into a classroom. Test scores will decline due to overcrowding and more students will fail. Prisons will be the new "schools". But gold is $950 an ounce and billions go to Canada to support their schools and medical programs. Smart Mr. Gibbons, very smart indeed. I've flushed waste that is smarter than you are.

I can't wait to see the surprised look on the Nevada Legislature, when the Federal government steps in and tells Nevada to raise taxes for education, or a Federal judge will do it for them.

Be careful what you wish for ksand99, the cuts will backfire and Nevada is ripe for a major Federal education funding lawsuit that will be supported in the White House. Look for sales taxes to be increased to 11%.
By vsestini

3/18/09 at 6:16 a.m.

Suggest removal

I now have come to the conclusion that I agree with Jim Gibbons and the Republicans: no new taxes. Instead, I propose that the state begin selling off all college and university property and cut back the expense of post secondary education.

We can keep the Rebel football, basketball and baseball programs however because they are really what counts in this community! That way we can pretend to have univesity education in this state for those who like to wear rebel sweatshirts.... Those that don't go on to college can act like they did...appearances are more important than reality of a real education..

The casinos in this community can continue to reap the benefits of bets on Rebel sports and will never feel the effect of having to pay greater taxes for college education for the masses.

Should there be any students graduating from our high schools that might qualify for college they are free to choose any one of hundreds of colleges in nearby states. If they can afford it they might even be able to attend prestigious schools in the east.

We can reduce expenses of public school education by eliminating all teacher certification requirements. Afterall, it doesn't rquire much to be a teacher...anyone can do it, everyone has been to school. So what is the big deal with teacher licensure? Why not hire anyone as a teacher...in the CCSD the requirements for graduation are so low anyway that there is no problem faking it a little more. Afterall the RJ has promised for decades there would be lines of people with advanced degrees wanting to teach in the CCSD at the current salary and benefit packages once certification requirements were eliminated. I can hardly wait to see the stack of applications from PhD's and Nobel Prize winners asking to teach chemistry, biology, physics and other subjects in the CCSD schools.

Having certain requirements to teach is really a teacher union ploy to make it look like teachers must have certain qualifications to teach. As we all know that is total nonsense...anyone can teach

We need to reduce teacher pay and benefits to the absolute minimum equivalent at minimum wage levels...teachers have gotten fat, lazy and greedy with their continual crying for liveable wages, benefits and health insurance. Who do they think they are anyway?

Jim Gibbons is among the smartest politicians in Nevada history...he is absolutely correct...save money, no new taxes for casino-rsorts, mining or construction firms because they are the least to afford it. I certainly hope the gets re-elected again...he has been a beacon of intelligent and forward looking ideas to advance and improve Nevada. God Bless and keep Jim Gibbons safe ... I hope he can find a new girl friend as well....
By mar100

3/18/09 at 6:38 a.m.

Suggest removal

It's time to begin the recall petitions and remove this Governor from office. It is apparent that he no idea what is job is or what he is doing and hiding in the bunker is not the answer...
By pmmart

3/18/09 at 7:55 a.m.

Suggest removal

All you gotta do now-a-daze is say Jimmie and you have a good sized group of folks foaming at the mouth, cursing and making the 13 twist special.

BUT ... What we don't see is any serious alternatives to the budget shortfall that Nevada [as well as the other 49 states] are facing.

SO.... Are any of you vigilanties willing to take a break from your task of scouting up a tree with a sturdy limb and offering some real solutions to the issue?

KEEP ..In mind that the turnips don't have much moisture left in them.
By airweare

3/18/09 at 1:49 p.m.

Suggest removal

Since Gibbons pinched off his budget, it has been quite apparent that his understanding and concern for his purview (Nevadans, now and in the future) are not nearly so important as sexmessaging other men's wives. Why should we expect any collaboration now? He has already defined his irrelevance, his disdain for education and his utter and total rejection of the notion of responsibility to us and our kids. There is no way to sugarcoat the truth: we are living in the state with 0 for a governor. Throw him out, and we may have a chance at survival; keep him, and we are doomed.
By afveteran

3/19/09 at 3:36 p.m.

Suggest removal

Everybody puts way too much stock in Governor Jim, good, bad, or indifferent. His term will run out, as will his staunch position on doing nothing while in office. We could be blessed by inaction and not even realize it!