Revenue shortfall may force NLV to cut budget again

Action could include cutting programs and services, renegotiating concessions with unions and reviewing city fees

Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 | 9:31 p.m.

Gregory Rose

William Robinson

North Las Vegas may need to cut another $7 million from its budget before next summer because tax revenue and growth-related fees continue to come in below expectations.

The city’s financial director, Phil Stoeckinger, told City Council members Wednesday night that the recession and high unemployment likely will force the city to make corrections in the current fiscal year that ends June 30, 2010.

That could mean cutting programs and services, renegotiating concessions with unions and reviewing fees the city charges, Stoeckinger said.

The city estimates consolidated taxes will be $3 million less and growth-related fees will be $4 million less this year than projected in May.

North Las Vegas’ unemployment rate is 14.8 percent, according to the city’s figures. That compares to 13.1 percent for Las Vegas and 12.5 percent for Nevada, as of July.

Growth-related revenues peaked at more than $90 million in 2006. The city expects those same sources will bring in about $45 million this year.

“I don’t know if we’ve seen the bottom yet,” Stoeckinger said.

Mayor Pro Tem William Robinson said the city could be doing more to cut costs.

“There’s a whole lot of cost savings that we need to do and should have been doing long before we had the glossy picture of how great things were,” he told City Manager Gregory Rose.

Rose said the cost-saving measures employed so far took care of the “low-hanging fruit” and more will be done after the council determines what the priorities should be.

“We are at the point now where we have to begin talking about the core services the city of North Las Vegas provides,” he said.

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By neiman1

Sept. 2, 2009

10:12 p.m.

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The recession is over. Obama told me so.
By VegasInsider

Sept. 2, 2009

10:37 p.m.

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Thank Obama and the great stimulus plan for the 14.8% unemployment in N. Las Vegas.

The stimulus sure created a lot of jobs.

We will all be swimming in cash soon.

Hope you dumbacrats are happy.
By tbvegas

Sept. 2, 2009

11:07 p.m.

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They just started construction on a $142 million new city hall, they can't be broke.

Just a reminder to everyone, Mayoral candidate Robinson thought it was the wrong tome to start it, Candidate and new Mayor Buck thought it was a great time to spend the city into prosperity and build it. Jobs, right - city ones!
By burnemandturnem

Sept. 3, 2009

7:41 a.m.

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The tax rates for property in NLV are higher than in any other part of the valley, no doubt so that NLV can have their own police, fire dept, city hall, and so on. It's a waste! Disincorporate the city of NLV and attach it to the county or Las Vegas City and save a ton of money by eliminating duplicate administrations and services.
By isthis4real

Sept. 3, 2009

8:55 a.m.

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the tax rates should be cut to the levels of the value of the houses as they now stand and not use the rates from two years ago...my taxes are still high and my house haas lost over 100k in value....so how about a new appraisal conducted by the county assessor?
By tbvegas

Sept. 3, 2009

11:29 a.m.

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NLV is the richest city in the valley. No other municipality gets to make money on water and sewer. My small business water bill a few years ago used to be about $100, now it is $600. It should be illegal to use a municipal service as a profit center to run other departments of government.
By NLV-Indep13

Sept. 3, 2009

2:19 p.m.

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Disincorporate. If county services are good enough for the strip, they're good enough for the rest of us. We don't need the duplication of effort -- twice the overhead for twice the price!
By billykydd

Sept. 3, 2009

8:16 p.m.

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Enforce traffic laws. Enforce tinted window laws. Enforce car registration laws. Make talking on the phone illegal. It's just a start to bring in income and increases quality of life.But why bother while you are living the Limo life.