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Monday, Dec. 27, 2010 | 2 a.m.
Sun coverage
Sun archives
- Sandoval to build own budget (12-22-2010)
- Panels propose ideas to squeeze state budget (12-4-2010)
- Sandoval budget assumes 10 percent cut to state, higher ed and furloughs (12-2-2010)
- 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)
As they prepare for the 2011 Legislature, local governments look like they’re going into a gunfight with a pretty dull knife.
Counties and cities are bracing for the likelihood that state government will take more of their tax revenue to bridge its budget deficit.
Their primary weapon of defense? An advisory ballot question approved by voters in November.
Looking for leverage with generally unsympathetic legislators, counties turned to voters, asking whether the state should obtain local governments’ permission before taking their money or transferring responsibility for services to local governments.
The measure passed by wide margins, 55 percent statewide (54 percent in Clark County) and got the majority in all but one county, Nye, which has had a series of local government scandals.
“We think the results are hopefully an indication of the local citizens’ desire to have their locally elected governing body have a say in the use of local resources,” said Jeff Fontaine, executive director of the Nevada Association of Counties.
But the initiative isn’t landing with the force advocates had hoped.
State officials view the results skeptically, saying voters were only given half the story.
The ballot measure ignored the environment in which the governor-elect and lawmakers will make their tough fiscal decisions — projected state revenue falls billions of dollars short of what’s needed to maintain current services. It also oversimplified the options available to the state, they said.
More than one legislator privately laughed at the measure’s wording. Others became upset at the way the question was presented.
Dale Erquiaga, senior adviser to Gov.-elect Brian Sandoval, said the ballot question “has weight because it’s a vote of the people. But it didn’t ask the other question: ‘Do you want your taxes raised?’ It’s only half an answer, in our opinion.”
Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas, and chairwoman of the Government Affairs Committee, agreed that the question didn’t offer a complete picture of the choices confronting lawmakers.
“I always listen to voters, but at the same time, you should ask if we should do away with a service” instead of taking local government money, she said. “If constituents were asked to choose, maybe their answers would have been different.”
Since 2008, when the state began facing large budget deficits, lawmakers and the governor have taken $283 million from local governments, primarily Clark and Washoe counties, according to the Association of Counties.
Sandoval and legislators appear poised to return to that well next year.
Kirkpatrick said Nevadans don’t care whether a state, county or city provides a government service.
The state needs governments at all levels to come together and figure out how to deliver services in the most efficient way, she said, adding it’s an idea that local governments haven’t taken seriously.
Before the 2009 session, Kirkpatrick met with some local government officials. “I said, ‘We all need to work together, to try to figure out what works.’ They all thought it was an idle threat,” Kirkpatrick said.
Now they know better.
Take this example, from the 2009 session: The governor proposed taking a portion of Clark and Washoe counties’ property taxes. Lawmakers were considering that when Clark County suggested the state take a different fund, one for buildings and parks.
Lawmakers thanked local officials for their idea, and decided to take both pots of money.
That angered local leaders. But the question was how to fight back, especially considering local governments are publicly battling state lawmakers, who have ultimate authority over cities’ and counties’ finances.
In California, cities and counties banded together to pass a constitutional amendment that would force the state to keep its hands off local money.
Nevada local governments went a more moderate route: a nonbinding advisory question that only asks the state to get permission.
Fontaine said local leaders understand the tough position legislators and the governor-elect are in. Local governments just want to have input, Fontaine said.
“We weren’t always invited to have a seat at the table,” he said.
He called the ballot question a “cautious approach” and noted that the group has not been beating its chest about winning voters’ approval.
“We don’t want to start a war with the Legislature or governor-elect,” he said. “We understand they can do what they want.”
We need to legalize and regulate and MEGA tax prostitution in Las Vegas.
This is Nevada people, we already have legal brothels in our state, and Nevada needs the millions in tax that we can earn from having it legit in our town where prostitution is rampant anyway.
Legalize, regulate and MEGA tax prostitution in Las Vegas, our state needs the money badly..
If the Voters don't complain or resist, they get what they deserve, the Governor Elect.
Yup, Rory had a plan, the pretty boy had none so now local governments will have to raise taxes to just stay alive. The voters probably got what they voted for! Wake up, pay attention!
There should be a recall - NOW
If the State Government just goes ahead and yanks money from any part of Clark County/Las Vegas in order to make up for statewide shortfalls, then we need to move the capital to Las Vegas.
Tear it down in Carson City and move it to Caesars Palace.
Hell, that way we can at LEAST get something for it.
If that happens, the first legislative recommendation I propose is to burn that picture portrait they recently made of the outgoing Governor Gibbons. That way we can totally forget and erase from anyone's memory that incompetent and useless politician.
It would be a symbolic gesure that won't get nothing done, but it would certainly be a first step on the road to recovery.
"Tear it down in Carson City and move it to Caesars Palace. Hell, that way we can at LEAST get something for it."
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Agreed.
:-)
The people have spoken. Mr. Sandoval carried Clark County, so the people of Las Vegas, Henderson and the like must have wanted to finance the rest of the state...thats what they are going to do. Change the name to Clark ATM, Nevada.
Sandoval has a track record of being duplicitous on tax issues. He was the hatchet man who went against the State Constitution on taxes, then he said he he was "forced to"...yeah right... The 60% requirement to pass a tax bill is not something that is unreasonable.
Then he said he won't raise taxes as Governor, but all along he had a plan to push the tax problem to the cities and counties. That is a leader? No it is a coward, and a lazy one at that.
While he takes taxpayer paid for medical insurance for himself and his family, he works to take away medical insurance from children with pre-existing conditions.
For once in their lives, families who faced financial ruin because their child has a pre-existing medical condition can get insurance for their child, and Sandoval works to take it away.
Some "family values" Governor.
Frugality in government is great. But perhaps we have reached the point at which our state government has turned into nothing more than a deadbeat daddy, and simply refuses to earn enough money to pay for basic necessities of existence. Nevada: the Mississippi of the West.
Forcing cities and counties to raise taxes mean his new state government admits they can't operate at a lower level.
I dont know why you guys keep saying Sandolal has no plan. He has a great plan and it's what got him elected. His plan is no more friggin taxes. The so called public servants can figure the rest out with what they have left. I have no sypanthy that they now have to deal with what they have, instead of write down what they think they need.
I could fix it in 5 minutes.
If you call yourself a Republican and you're not rich, you are kidding yourself. What you are is a dupe being played by the "Real Republicans" for a vote. You are doing their bidding just like the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz.
I'd laugh at you but you've screwed the rest of us around to the point where it is no laughing matter. I hope you've learned something from this. It's not about you and representative government - it's all about them using you to protect their interests. It's all about them and their money . . . everyone else be damned.
What did 53% of the voters think they were doing on election day? All of this was on the table before the election. Governor-elect Sandoval cannot do any of this without the legislature. Only the legislature can appropriate funds.
Call you legislator and tell them to raise your taxes if you want the state to pay for the programs you want or to limit the state taking revenue. Real simple.
To those who haven't yet: Arm yourselves and carry. More untreated mentally ill on the streets, more parolees unsupervised, more violent offenders released because of lack of speedy trial.
Las Vegas is going to get a lot more violent.
Great job, Brian. Make the Squealers squeal. That's why I voted for you, to end this Animal Farm stink.
All of you folks who think the state should continue providing you with entitlements, please step-up to the plate and do the right thing----send a nice, big, fat check to Carson City every month from your personal bank account to bolster the coffers of the state treasury. Put your money where your mouths are and quit robbing from your neighbor. Yes, you are robbing from your neighbor by proxy.