Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
By Dave Toplikar (contact) 
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 | 11:05 a.m.
Sun Coverage
- Survey reveals residents’ priorities (11-13-2009)
- Las Vegas officials seek public input on budget cuts (11-6-2009)
- 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)
Related links
Las Vegas City officials will continue to consider how to deal with more than a $400 million shortfall during the next five years — including laying off city workers — at Wednesday's Las Vegas City Council meeting.
The meeting, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at city hall council chambers, will include a presentation from Mark Vincent, the city's chief financial officer, on the state of the city's budget.
Vincent and City Manager Betsy Fretwell are expected to outline a series of options, including layoffs and other cost-savings measures, plus ways to boost the local econony.
The city's consolidated tax revenue continues to drop, indicating the economy has not yet bottomed out.
The last estimate, made in May, showed the city is dealing was dealing with a 240 million shortfall during the next five years.
But now that shortfall is estimated to have doubled to more than $400 million because of the decline in sales taxes.
The city has already begun trying to figure out how to deal with the loss in revenue with its project "Your City, Your Way," which was set up to get public input.
The project involved taking a survey for finding out what citizens' priorities are for city government, getting public input on a Web site at www.lasvegasnevada.gov/yourcity, having UNLV sociologists conduct focus groups in five parts of the city to discuss budget cuts and holding town hall meetings in January and February in each of the city's wards.
Start with Betsy and Vincent!
Well thank god if the layoffs go through. I always feel terrible when I think about all the underpaid government workers striving for excellence at meager wage for my benefit. Now
they can finally get those high paying private sector jobs that their unions are always telling us about.
Just one more reason to legalize and tax marijuana!
Don't forget to tell Henderson about your layoffs, Vegas. They don't have the cajones to lay off people in their little club, but eventually they
will have to. Don't forget the excess cops and firemen, too, unless you bargained that away last time. Wouldn't doubt it....
I wonder what Economic and Business courses our City Officials took in school? In this article the City is so broke they are going to start reducing services due to a $400 million shortfall during the next five years.
In another article today the City is going to SPEND $267 MILLION plus expenses next month for a new City Hall.
New city hall bonds have given project stimulating effect
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/nov...
Maybe we can get an Economics Professor from UNLV to sit down with Betsy and Oscar and explain to hem that when your broke...you cannot continue to spend.
Please somebody take away the checkbook, because they still seem to think they have checks...
Oscarnomics?
I have a friend who has been a firefighter for about 5 years and pulled in over $120K last year. I think its high time the tax payers make a stand and dont put up with the fleecing that we are taking. I think a fire fighter should be well paid probably $60 - 70K would be fair.
I am discusted when I hear government employees say that they have to be paid high to retain good employees because they could make more in the private sector. Well, thats a bunch of bull stuff and everyone knows it here in clark county.
How funny is this? If this doesn't call for some type of investigation about what is going on at "City" Hall I don't know what is. How can someone justify securing millions of dollars in debt, but yet have a revenue shortfall. Gazoo wants to line his buddies pockets (i.e. construction friends), yet have to take food off the table of some city employees. Ironically, some of the soon-to-be laid off will never have the chance to enjoy the new "City" Hall. Gosh my hometown has gotten unbearable to live. Too much greed, too much deception, too many liars. It's just too much BS!
Actually the more I think about it, this reminds me of the movie "Robocop 2"; when the City of Detroit defaulted on its loan payments to a private corporation and the corp was planning to take Detroit "private." What do you think is going to happen when the City of Las Vegas defaults? It is already happening in cities in the South. Hmmm....
Public safety requirements demand that the basic police, fire, road & highway forces remain constant through tough economic times. Other frivolous services can be put on the backburner for the time being. Regular labor forces must be pared down to budget limitation requirements. Start the layoffs now, for those non-essential workers.
I hate to see it get to this, but sure have been waiting for it too.
Start looking at retiring those old, less-productive, high-paid, long term employees and keep the hard working lower paid workers. Require a maximum 2 squad car on regular traffic stops and only one fire engine response to a single traffic accident and then review how many cops and firemen are actually needed. Let every employee justify their worth to the city and don't bend over to their powerful unions. If we can do these to start, we can find huge savings.
VC you're a good friend not to have.
Why not cut some salaries and keep more people working? Think State and Local employees are underpaid? Go to www.transparentnevada.com and prepare to be stunned at how much cash is being shelled out for our bloated governments!!
"The last estimate, made in May, showed the city is dealing was dealing with a 240 million shortfall during the next five years.
But now that shortfall is estimated to have doubled to more than $400 million because of the decline in sales taxes."
The private sector will be letting go more valley workers during the next several months as well -- as the local economy continues to worsen so will these shortfall figures.
: (
thanks, liberals.
Bush damage will continue for years
Billykydd, just stating my opinion. Thats what the forum is for. I guess you are a fireman and got offended that I think you make too much money for sitting in a recliner at the firehouse all day.
Just wait until this Betsy Lady gets a heart attack and she who comes to her aid. She needs to rethink who she is taking away from, then her life maybe taken away from her.