City Government:

Las Vegas officials seek public input on budget cuts

Questionaire, focus groups and town hall meetings to be part of process

Friday, Nov. 6, 2009 | 12:30 p.m.

Oscar Goodman

Nevada city, county leaders meet in Henderson for summit (10-15-2009)
Las Vegas city auditor on the lookout for fraud, waste (10-13-2009)

What should Las Vegas' city government be doing in these tough economic times? And what options should the city take in January to cut the city's budget by $25 million for this fiscal year?

To find out, the city council has set up a project called "Your City, Your Way," creating a Web site, talking to focus groups and scheduling several town hall meetings to get public input.

The Web site with the questionnaire is at www.lasvegasnevada.gov/yourcity.

The public can also follow the program via Twitter at CityofLasVegas for alerts or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityOfLasVegas.

Mayor Oscar Goodman said the city is using a phone survey conducted by UNLV to help in finding out what the public would like to see city government do.

The results, which were presented to the city council this week, indicated the public wants the city to try to create jobs, Goodman said.

"Basically, that's the direction we were heading, viscerally, without much empirical data. But now the empirical data would support that we're in the right direction," Goodman said.

"We talk about building a new city hall, building a new arena and building an entertainment complex is going to keep it up as far as creating jobs in the downtown," he said. "I think we're on the right track."

As part of the project, UNLV sociologists are conducting focus groups in five parts of the city to help determine where budget cuts should be made.

The third part of the project involves town hall meetings in January and February in each of the city's wards to explain the budget cutting options to the public. Goodman plans to be at all of the meetings, along with the City Council member from that particular ward.

Discussion: 3 comments so far…

By rejco100

11/6/09 at 1:52 p.m.

Suggest removal

Like they will listen to: RESIGN!
By info4you2see

11/6/09 at 3:34 p.m.

Suggest removal

I would start with 5% to 10% salary cuts across the board.

http://transparentnevada.com/salaries/20...

http://transparentnevada.com/salaries/20...

This the best solution to show the tax paying citizens of Las Vegas and Clark County that you are willing to make a sacrifice.

Thank you.
By wizardofOz

11/6/09 at 7:03 p.m.

Suggest removal

Here's a few suggestions:

PUT ALL BUDGET AND SPENDING ITEMS ONLINE.

That includes WAGES, SALARIES, COST OF LIVING INCREASES, MERIT PAY, VACATION DAYS, SICK DAYS, FLOATING HOLIDAYS, PERSONAL DAYS, PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, RETIREMENT BENEFITS, ETC.,

ALL FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS AND INVESTMENTS, BONDS, LOANS, NOTES, OBLIGATIONS, ETC.,

CONTRACT COSTS, ZONING COSTS, ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, FORECASTED COSTS, UNDOCUMENTED COSTS, ETC.

AND PUT THE RESULTS OF:

THE TOP to BOTTOM and SIDEWAYS AUDIT

conducted by an OUTSIDE AUDITOR (not 'cronies)

AND PUT IT ALL ONLINE FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO SEE.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO HAVE YOU ELECTED PEOPLE ON T.V.

BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT YOU DID ON T.V.

YOU FOUND A WAY TO MAKE THE CITY RUN AROUND TOWN WITH NOTHIN' BUT A BARREL ON...

THANKS FOR LOSING ALL THAT ARBITRATION AND ATTORNEY MONEY, TOO.

(You all give new meaning to the word "LOSER"...)

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