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County to hand off safety oversight of child care facilities to state
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Sun Archives
- A failure of the system (9-4-2009)
- AG enters lawmakers' standoff with DA over child welfare (9-1-2009)
- Legislators' peeve holds up money for child welfare (8-18-2009)
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- Bill that called for more lawyers for children might be dead (4-29-2009)
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- Panel deadlocks on cuts that would trim child abuse investigations (4-24-2009)
- County Commission chairman rejecting child welfare cuts (11-19-2008)
- Struggling to protect our young (5-16-2003)
- County prepares to take foster care reins (7-6-2001)
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Beyond the Sun
CARSON CITY — Clark County will drop its oversight of child care facilities and return that responsibility to state government.
In a move that will be seen by many as payback for the Legislature’s raid on county tax revenue this past session, Clark County gave the state notice this week that it would stop overseeing the safety of day care centers in one year, saving about $500,000 annually, according to the county.
The state Legislature this year took millions of dollars from Clark County, which was struggling to deal with a sour economy, falling property values and lagging sales tax revenue. As a result, the county has been forced to cut its budget.
County spokesman Dan Kulin said the idea of returning county functions to the state emerged in focus group meetings this year with county workers on ways to cut spending.
“This action does that,” Kulin said.
The county will stop accepting new child care license applications in five months. Kulin said officials don’t yet know whether jobs will be found for all workers involved in overseeing child care.
Las Vegas this year turned over its child care licensing to the state. Child care facilities in North Las Vegas and Henderson are licensed by the state.
“It’s something that legally has to be done,” Health and Human Services Department spokesman Ben Kieckhefer said of the licensing of child care facilities. “If the county doesn’t want to do it anymore, the state will do it.”
Kieckhefer said the department has asked the attorney general’s office to clarify whether the one year’s notice is sufficient under a law passed by the Legislature last session. Assembly Bill 97 states that the transfer of a function from a local government to the state must be made before a legislative session so the state has time to budget for the new responsibilities.
Assemblywoman April Mastroluca, D-Henderson, said she has asked the legislature’s legal counsel to weigh in because no regulations are in place for the process.
Still, state lawmakers seemed resigned to the prospect that the state, which is facing its own budget shortfall — estimates have been as high as $2 billion going into the 2011 session — will be asked to do more.
“One, we don’t have the money,” said Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno.
Local governments took control of that function because they thought they could do it better, she added. “Local governments are better able to set up regulatory mechanisms to meet the needs of the community.”
The county’s budget troubles, however, could lead to similar moves.
Kieckhefer said Clark County has signaled to state officials that it might also hand off its elderly protective services function to the state. When the state last estimated the cost of taking over those responsibilities, in 2006, it was $1.2 million a year.
Joe Schoenmann reported from Las Vegas.
Discussion: 12 comments so far…
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North las vegas allowed one c asino company to purchase a big chunk of land off Losee and 215. as far as I know it stillstands vacant. would have made a good location for a b usiness, and I don'tmean another strip mall, other than another casino.
sorry must be still asleep. my post was meant for that other story. it's hell getting old!
How did these reporters miss that the City of Las Vegas has already handled back this function to the state?
Guess Sheila didn't think about that when she was raiding the county coffers just a few months ago.
The Reid family is playing politics with the safety of your children. I thought Utah was about family values?
Sammy06, the article does in fact mention that Las Vegas has handed over child care licensing to the state.
"Las Vegas this year turned over its child care licensing to the state. Child care facilities in North Las Vegas and Henderson are licensed by the state."
Hey Thumper,
If you analyze the effective governance of county governments Clark County is a very well run fiscal entity.
However, we are in a state that has fostered, through gaming, mining and business lobbying, a tax base that is totally deficient in supporting the state.
Like a hungry wolf it has savaged the budgets of county and city budgets pillaging for available cash. The State of Nevada should not be surprised when the local governments it rapes, sends chickens home to roost. (Lord, how I love a mixed metaphor.)
Rory Reid is doing a great job at the helm of Clark County during difficult times and he will do better as Governor.
What difference does it make if the city does it, or the county does it, or the state government does it? All 3 governments are broke from the recession, and the politicians who run them know it. It's up to the taxpayer and business to bail them out, and both are strapped to the limits. Outcome? Dire straits for all, kids, oldtimers, poor ghetto indigents, and generic people in need of services. A sorry situation created by politicians.
Way to go Clark County. You have a Governor who refuse to consider asking his cronies in the mining industy to do more. He pledge not to raise taxes, but he has no problem spending tax monies raised by Clark and Washoe Counties. Where's the leadership?
children make good pawns, move them around the chess board.
"Where's the leadership?"
Hey, Dumocrat.....you do know that the Democrats control both houses and it is the legislative branch that controls the budget and not the gov.
How about whining about them?