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Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.
Sun Archives
- Brian Sandoval sticking by ‘no-new-taxes’ pledge (11-30-2010)
- Polished knife still cuts deep into state’s budget (11-28-2010)
- Expect Sandoval to flex his newfound political capital on his anti-tax pledge (11-10-2010)
- Let Sandoval take heat for budget, Democrats say (11-5-2010)
- Brian Sandoval defeats Rory Reid in governor’s race, now must govern (11-2-2010)
- University system snubs governor, won’t submit budget with cuts (10-28-2010)
- State’s budget woes could end programs targeting seniors (10-27-2010)
- Reid, Sandoval clash over state budget in lively governor’s debate (10-26-2010)
- Home assistance for disabled among services on budget chopping block (10-21-10)
- Museums hit under proposed cuts to state budget (10-19-10)
- Governor’s race tightens as budget debate avoided (10-5-2010)
- $2.5 billion state budget deficit: ‘Best-case scenario’ (4-23-2010)
- Gibbons: School districts should brace for 10 percent cuts (2-2-10)
- Brian Sandoval, Rory Reid spar over budget solutions (1-27-2010)
CARSON CITY — A legislative committee, while looking for efficiencies in state government, is also taking aim at Nevada counties to help solve the state’s budget dilemma of $3 billion.
There are suggestions that counties either take over some of the state’s programs or charge them a fee for providing these services. These shifts or assessments could total $50 million in the next biennium.
For instance, the Legislative Committee on Review of Base Budgets of State Agencies has voted to further examine shifting an $11 million cost to District Courts to conduct pre-sentence investigations for those convicted of crimes.
The investigations are now done by the state Parole and Probation Division, which has 73 officers on the job.
The Legislature, if it goes along with the suggestion, will face a spirited battle with local government.
“You just can’t throw things over the fence and expect the counties to pick them up,” said Jeff Fontaine, director of the Nevada Association of Counties.
These are significant costs, Fontaine said. “Some counties can barely afford to keep their public safety department and other essential services,” he said.
The recommendations will be presented Dec. 17 to the Legislative Interim Finance Committee. Review committee members emphasized this was just a starting point.
Among the suggestions are transferring elder protection services investigations from the state to the counties or assess them for the cost; shift the licensing of emergency medical persons to the counties, except for Clark, which issues its own licenses; and allowing the Consumer Health Protection Agency to charge higher fees for protecting public health outside of Clark County, Washoe County and Carson City.
The committee is suggesting the 2011 Legislature look at merging the Office of Homeland Security with the Division of Emergency Planning and moving the state Personnel Division and the Department of Information Technology into the Department of Administration.
A proposal was moved forward by the committee to cut back the Senior Property Tax Assistance program for a savings of $6 million during the coming two fiscal years. An estimated 77 percent of the recipients are above the federal poverty level and their average grant was $349. Those below the federal poverty level received an average grant of $289.
The recommendation is to give grants to only those below the federal poverty level, and some of the recipients in this group qualify for federal grants.
The committee rejected suggestions to merge the state Commissions on Tourism and Economic Development; move the Department of Agriculture into the Department of Business and switch the Department of Wildlife into the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Also turned down was a proposal to eliminate the Agency for Nuclear Projects. Sen. Valerie Wiener, D-Las Vegas, said scrapping the agency would send the wrong message as the state is still fighting to stop Yucca Mountain.
These Pre-Sentence Report writers are not "officers" but specialists. The funny part of this is if they move under Clark County, for example, their pay and benefits would increase dramatically. Their longevity pay would skyrocket, their benefits would be way better and they would have collective bargaining. They would also stop taking furlough days. In other words, it would cost way more money for the same job production. Sounds like a whopper of a deal, but it makes no sense.
While they are at it, disband the Parole and Probation Department, with the small parole unit transferring to the Department of Prisons and the large probation unit transferring to counties. This is the model most other States follow and should save this State government between 50 and 60 million dollars. I believe this was studied during the last legislative session.
Counties in turn, need to make these "probation officer" positions non-sworn, like in other States. Really, if county probation officers in the big bad States like California and Texas can do the same job without guns and badges, so can Nevada probation officers. This move should save the tax payers even more money, especially in Clark County which would end up absorbing majority of those positions.
Why is Nevada spending tax money on Yucca Mountain?
I thought Harry Reid had it all covered...
"Wildlife" appears to be a natural subset of "Conservation & Natural Resources", so why two separate departments? Trying to protect some special interest contributions?
Anytime I read the phrase cut back the Senior Property Tax Assistance program or lets charge a Fee, for providing a service that has already been funded that means a tax increase right and whats the difference if it's done by Democrats or republicans it's still a tax increase.
Could we FINALLY stop the double and triple dipping by some state/city employees. You know, the ones who retire and then are so essential that they are hired back to positions that HAVE TO BE FILLED. And let's stop two and three people from the same household from holding government jobs. Let at least one adult per household be employed in non-government.
Justice Hardesty has asked when can we deport the illegals in our prisons to save $50,000 a day. Do we have to "parole" them and release them to ICE? Let's do it. How many a day can the feds take custody of. Free up the courtrooms one day a week and move these people out of this country. It's nice to see that some coordination is moving these illegals out upon arrest but LET'S DEAL WITH THE BACKLOG IN OUR PRISONS.