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Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010 | 2 a.m.
Sun Coverage
Sun Archives
- With state cuts, how long can teacher salaries be spared? (1-26-10)
- Gibbons to call special session, lawmakers plan public meetings (1-25-10)
- New economic reality: Pessimism (1-23-10)
- State budget comes up $800 million short (1-22-10)
- Forecast: Economy will begin to rebound in mid-2011 (1-22-10)
- Gibbons’ no-talk order further divides branches (1-22-10)
- Special session may require help of state Supreme Court (1-10-10)
- College students band together, rally against budget cuts (1-22-2009)
- Chancellor calls Nevada schools a ‘disaster’ (1-22-2009)
- UNLV fundraising campaign falls short, so deadline extended (12-18-2008)
- Emotional farewells at Regent’s meeting (12-5-2008)
- Rogers to budget cut protestors: Glad you’re here (12-4-2008)
- Fee hikes may become too steep to endure (12-4-2008)
- UNLV fundraisers fighting to the finish (9-1-2008)
- With that pay, no way, many would-be graduate students tell UNLV (5-11-2008)
- Some say setting fees every two years gives universities a blank check (2-16-2008)
Beyond the Sun
UPDATED STORY: Chancellor: Budget cuts would undo ‘decade of significant progress’
For the first time in nearly 30 years, the Board of Regents today will consider declaring a financial emergency that could lead to pay reductions, furloughs and layoffs of faculty and staff.
The extent of budget cuts won’t be known until the Legislature’s special session, but the Nevada System of Higher Education is bracing for reductions of at least 20 percent, on top of the deep reductions that have already taken place.
Among options facing the regents: tapping student-generated funds for operating costs that had been set aside for capital improvements; adopting new surcharges for student tuition and fees; and reducing personnel costs through furloughs, pay reductions, hiring freezes, layoffs and terminations or restructuring of programs.
Some of the changes, particularly revising the working conditions and compensation for tenured faculty, require the board to declare what’s known as a “financial exigency.”
“There is a lack of funds to meet current or projected expenditures,” said Bart Patterson, vice chancellor of administrative and legal affairs for the Nevada System of Higher Education.
The new cuts would seriously undermine educational opportunities for Nevada students, as well as the quality of the education they receive, said Greg Brown, president of the UNLV Faculty Alliance.
“There’s the prospect of students losing access to programs, classes and faculty,” Brown said. “That alone should be getting people’s attention.”
The worsening budget projections spring from conclusions reached by the recent Economic Forum, which estimates revenue flowing to the state. The implications for higher education will be discussed today when the Board of Regents holds a special meeting at the College of Southern Nevada’s West Charleston campus.
Shortchanging the state’s colleges and universities will only perpetuate “a vicious cycle,” Regents Chairman James Dean Leavitt said.
“We’ve known for a long time that, as a state, we were far too reliant on gaming revenue,” Leavitt said. “We have to diversify our economy, and it’s absolutely necessary to have a highly educated, highly trained workforce to induce companies to relocate to Nevada. Higher ed is part of the solution to the state’s long-term problems. We’re very concerned that people recognize the magnitude of that.
“If there’s any good news, it’s that the presidents at each institution are engaging in substantial planning,” Leavitt said. “And there’s certainly unity among the regents right now, and we have a lot of support for finding solutions.”
The chancellor, in consultation with the presidents of the state’s colleges and universities, is required to recommend to the regents that they declare financial exigency “after it’s determined there are no other ways to reduce expenditures to meet the budgetary reduction,” Patterson said.
The last time the regents declared a financial exigency was in 1977, and it applied only for the business unit at what is now CSN.
Regents last discussed the possibility of a systemwide financial exigency in 1982, when a 10 percent budget cut was looming. The step wasn’t taken.
“We’re looking at more than a 20 percent reduction (in state support) on top of what’s already been cut,” Patterson said. “Obviously, this is a much more dramatic situation than was faced in 1982.”
Declaring a financial exigency would give individual campuses more freedom in reducing personnel costs because existing contracts could be more easily adjusted. It would also allow higher ed administration to operate on an accelerated timeline, bypassing existing requirements for notifying employees and students of possible changes.
Nevada is far from the only state wrestling with such decisions. Education officials in several states, including Utah, Texas and Mississippi, are also considering declaring financial exigency.
Some of the upcoming choices rest with lawmakers, not campus administrators, Leavitt said.
The 2009 Legislature put in mandatory furlough days for faculty and staff, and it could happen again during the special session, Leavitt said. He spent much of last week meeting with members of the Legislature’s leadership “to express our concerns,” Leavitt said.
Brown said UNLV administrators have been meeting with the Faculty Senate to look at potential areas for cuts to programs and services, and described those consultations as “very productive.” The mood at UNLV is “busy,” Brown said, as the faculty deals with “more students, less support staff and a million variables floating around. The stress level is high.”
It's easier for our idiotic so called leaders to make across the board education and state worker cuts, being ever so careful as not to cut the areas which affect their own greedily lined pockets. If they were to try and do anything which generates income for the state, that would be considered doing the job the voters elected them to do. They are way to dumb and hopelessly lacking in brainpower and imagination for that.
Stupid is as stupid does.
Exactly.
How dare anyone suggest that University salaries be reduced. These selected elite have lived in a campus setting immune from the realities of the world as they examine the value of studying such items of value to society as the effects of dance and special studies of Che on the history of the world.
The citizens of Nevada owe the University staff whatever it takes to maintain their salaries and lifestyle no matter what other needs come up short. What is feeding the poor or leaving families the money they worked for compared to maintaining the University employees in a faux world of fantasy.
Neiman1,
Aren't you late for your shift driving cabs?
Um, neiman, did you read the article?
Higher Ed has already pared budgets and cut salary and staff; there is a point where simple budget-cutting becomes counter productive to managing the shortfall.
You and Gym Gibbons need to understand; Nevada's problems will not all be solved by using a simple mathematical subtraction of numbers. If that's all it took to be a Governor, we could just hire an accountant.
We need to address our economic shortfalls with a little more VISION, or we're just compounding the problems Nevada faces.
Forest for the trees, neiman.
The gov only recommends a budget.
It is the Democratic led legislature that actually passes a budget.
So you want to be a hypocrite and just blame Gibbons then go right adhead and play the hypocrite role.
In last regular session the state passed the largest tax increase in Nevada's history.
A few sessions ago the state passed the 2nd largest tax increase in Nevada's history.
k-12 has the biggest part of the budget at around 35%.
Followed by Medicaid, Housing and other welfare programs at 28%.
Followed by higher-ed at 20%.
Then comes public safety at 10%.
Then comes miscellanous departments that round out the other 7%.
The state spending is only returning to the levels before the massive increases that occurred during that last big big tax increase.
They have not been any massive layoffs. Other states have been doing layoffs, salary cuts and benefits cuts.
It is the reality of this economy.
If you do not want to cut higher ed then how much more do you want to cut k-12 or vice-versa.
It is impossible not to cut one without cutting into the other even more. It is called, Math.
Are you asking for another massive tax increase?
If yes, then called your representatives and tell them you will not vote for them otherwise.
If the Board of Regents want to seriously consider what to cut out of the University System, should they not now consider dropping all NCAA Interscholastic Competitions. The idea that a state university system should be the minor league training ground for future pro sport stars in Football, Basketball, Baseball, Golf, Boxing or whatever is now defunct. This state, especially in light of the current economic climate, can ill afford this luxury of a 'fairyland, fantasy dream' of Nevada Universities making it big in athletic competition against larger schools from more populous states.
UNLV recently hired a new AD and head football coach and staff at unbelievable salaries, with rich bonuses and hefty buy-out contracts just waiting to be claimed. Yet, the public in all of its ignorance and lack of interest in true academic education say, "wonderful, it's great." And, for what? To allow a handful of students to be the pawns of professional sports empires at the expense of taxpayers. Just what have, and do, the professional sports organizations who reap the benefits of our minor league training teams actually contribute to this state? I am yet to hear of any financial assistance for the training of athletic students, pay for coaches or in building local facilities from the NFL, MBA, MLB organizations?
These major league organizations have even shied away from building major sports arenas, coliseums or stadia here in Las Vegas because of the fear that it would not be a financial gain for them. What real benefits to students and taxpayers alike have these major sports empires really contributed to our local economy? Oh, occasionally we have a second rate, poorly attended football bowl game, an exhibition game from MLB for a couple of days, and even an occasional exhibition game from the NBA.
It is not the role of state universities to be the major entertainment, via sports, for the general public. The goal of any university system is to educate, conduct research of both an applied,technical nature as well as research in various aspects of 'pure science' for the sake of seeking and increasing knowledge in general.
Sports do not support education despite the propoganda that fills this paper from the ignorant and uneducated public posters here. It is a case of the tail wagging the dog.
Univesties all over the world that are noted for high academic standards, achievement and accomlished research do so very well without the necessity of big time sports teams and competition. This is the phony idea that has been promoted and advanced by those that benefit most from organized collegiate, big time sports: the major sports empires of the NFL, MBA, MLB, etc.
European Universities, Japan, China, India Australia, South America all have plenty of students attending their schools without the necessity of the phony attraction of big time sports teams and competition.
The claim that scholastic sports increases the opportunity for the economically deprived from attending is pure baloney. Where there is a will to learn there is a way; the problem is that many want a college degree for ball handling but not for academic achievement. Too many want to sit on their fat butss, play sports and then claim they have a college education without the academic effort required. So many cannot even speak a full complete sentence in correct grammer because they spent most of their lives living a fantasy of a sports career.
It's about time. I don't feel bad for UNLV at all. Remember the recent article where they gave raises to select staff members? http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/nov...
And how long did they expect to keep up the insanely generous raises of up to $4,500/year per faculty member PLUS COLAS raises of an addition 2 to 4% every year? They even gave huge raises to staff and lecturers.
Personally, I am glad that they may finally be held accountable for this spending. I'd rather see cuts made where people are overpaid instead of cuts to foster care and other social services that are suffering.
Unfortunately, this discussion seems to be excluding the College of Southern Nevada. My colleagues and I teach at least 15 credits, or five three-credit classes, without graders or teaching assistants, and are expected to give individual attention to students who are not yet ready for the four-year/university experience. We have more enrollees than any other institution in the system, and about twice as many as the two northern community colleges and two four-year state colleges combined. I am not complaining or crying poor-mouth when I say all that; that's our job, and we are intimately familiar with the economic problems afflicting our society (we also tend to be aware of the abdication of responsibility by political and business leaders, too). But it's getting harder to do that job. Further, it would be nice if CSN got to keep the money its students pay in instead of having to give it to the state.
Will Smastresk be humble enough to admit that it was wrong to give $500,000 in raises to staff members a few months ago now?
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/nov...
Will the university finally create a post-tenure review process so that someone doesn't work for 6 years to get tenure and then spend the following 40 years on a free ride?
Will they get rid of programs that do not attract enough students?
another (possible) black-eye for Nevada's higher education system! when will the state learn???
It is important not to group CSN with UNLV. Instructors at CSN teach 5 classes and get paid less then their UNLV counterparts. We should look at why we need Nevada Sate College. That only exists because it was someones pet project.
Good point bennie. They are apples and oranges. CSN sounds more cost effective. I think that the budget cuts for UNLV are wonderful because the university has increased their spending to a point that I personally do not think is sustainable.
This opportunity to do major cost cutting now could change the university and make higher education in NV more affordable to future generations.
does this include the hospital, since reid shoved over to a teaching facility.
Many part time professors have been extremely cut. It's looking like entire programs and possibly entire entities might be at risk at this point. Does the population not understand where there is a strong university, there is a strong city?
Athletics generates money. Do you not see this vsestini? It is also the direct link to the community and alumni. What percentage of students are athletes? How many go pro? Very little. Universities and Athletics are what help make us Americans. USA tends to have quite a bit more than most countries in the Olympics, am I right?
Oh and Neiman, Your posts are the most ignorant I have ever witnessed.
nevadaappleslices, hater of all things educational; she is obsessed with bashing UNLV & CCSD.
Sofakingbored, do you not see how much waste there is at the university and how overpaid so many tenured professors are that don't contribute much once they have tenure? this is a great opportunity for the university to make major cuts and reshape the university so that it is more affordable to future generations.
sgtrock says "it is called math."
EXACTLY!
Here's the Gov's entire Method of operating Nevada;
Subtract big numbers from other big numbers.
What a visionary, that Gym.
Tenured professors have contracts that are unable to be altered unless there is legal action, which would cost the universities even more money. They have also been given more classes to teach to make up for the part time faculty reductions.
Define "Waste." Compare the salaries of the professors here to other universities in the area. You have to recruit quality to produce. UNLV has been given a typewriter and expected to perform like a printer.
What would you cut appleslices?
That is not true that all tenured professors have teaching increases. There are professors in our college that have not brought in a research dollar in years and they also do not have a teaching increase. If you read the article here, you will realize that financial exigency allows them to layoff tenured faculty members. So today might be a good day for you to stop surfing the web and get some work done!
gmag....will you ever put your money where your mouth is?
Are you demanding a tax increase?
What taxes do you want to increase and how much?
What taxes do you want that will come from your pocket?
What taxes do you want that will endanger your job and your standard of living?
Are you going to contact your representative and demand a tax increase?
Do you know that it is the legislative branch that controls the budget and not the gov?
Hey, hey guys! You're making it far too complicated. Here's the basic truth. Big gaming is building mega-billion dollar casino resorts on mainland China and in Singapore! They're doing it with NEVADA TAXPAYERS' MONEY...money they haven't paid as their fair share to their home turf. MINING INCLUDED. Too many Nevadans run around screaming that there is no food in the top drawer when they haven't even looked anywhere else in the kitchen. Nevada is rich beyond measure in untapped gaming revenues (6.75% Nevada, up to 50% elsewhere in the country) and Mining, which pays practically nothing. Corporations included. You want to solve the problem? Do what states and countries around the world do. Tax where the money is. The titans of gaming, mining and corporations cannot operate...THEY CANNOT EXIST...without a well trained, reasonably educated work force. MAKE THEM PAY THEIR FARE SHARE, DARN IT!!!
I have worked in higher ed all my life.
Including here in Nevada.
UNLV has some of the most bloated faculty compensation of any public university in the west. Many faculty start near 70K, when you get tenure it becomes nearly 100K. UNLV athletic department is bloated and terrible - quit chasing excellence in sports and get back to your original mission.
CSN. Good God. What a mess. More money has been misplaced, stolen, and incompetently managed than ANY public university or college I have known. You'd think the faculty posting to this board would at least ADMIT the deplorable state of CSN's fiducary incompetence before complaining about their work load.
Lastly, anyone who goes into public education to pad their wallet is a fool. Public education is about the calling, not the compensation.
Have to teach 5 history classes per semester? Then DO it and be grateful that you have tenure, health insurance, oh yeah...and a job.
Honestly, anyone who doubts these facts needs to spend 25 years in higher ed and see it for themselves.
It is terrible, especially in Nevada.
Get rid of the football team.
Another thing. Our universities and colleges ought to do a little bit of constructive commentary of what is REALLY HAPPENING to Nevada. They, of all people, have the education and analytical tools to "pull the curtain back" and let everyone see what's really going on. It's more than obvious that Nevada's "esteemed news reporting industry" would rather take shallow notes than do their job. To be fair, many of them are already working killer hours, terrified that their weakened newspapers/TV stations may lay them off if they get to the bottom of anything that ticks off an advertiser. However, honor to one's profession, especially in this case, appears to be in too short supply. Academics. REAL news reporters. GET TO WORK! Ignore politics for a change! Follow the darn dollar!!!!
Nevada taxpayers already have way to many sacred cows hanging around their necks as it is.
@NevadaAppleSlices: merit pay hasn't been warded for any faculty since 2006 and it isn't for each faculty member; its awarded on a competitive basis after a rigorous review at three levels.
There is more accountability in this process than anywhere else in the public or private sector.
When it is awarded, the amount you mention is awarded to at most 1/12 -- only 1/6 of the 50% of faculty who receive merit in any given year.
There have been no cost-of-living increases since since 2008, and if you consider colas vs the rise in consumer price index over the last ten years, all state workers -- including faculty -- are well behind the curve, by several percentage points.
Finally, no less than the Chamber of Commerce found that staff in higher ed in NV are paid only 85% of the national average, and the chair of the Governor's SAGE commission said publicly that one of the areas NV needs to spend more is higher education, to encourage economic and cultural growth.
Your point of view is clear and valid but lets at least debate this on the facts.
nevadaappleslices,
I appreciate your passion on this topic, and you should be applauded for making your statements public for all of us to read. Please don't take this personally, but I just wanted to make one minor comment about your comments. My comment is that virtually all your contentions are factually incorrect.
You said "How long did they expect to keep up the insanely generous raises of up to $4,500/year per faculty member PLUS COLAS raises of an addition 2 to 4% every year?" The fact is that less than 5% of faculty received $4,500/year and those were to the highest performing faculty members. One-third of faculty received no merit whatsoever each year. Also, COLA raises did not happen every year.
You said, "Will the university finally create a post-tenure review process so that someone doesn't work for 6 years to get tenure and then spend the following 40 years on a free ride?" The fact is that tenured faculty are reviewed every year and can be fired after two consecutive unsatisfactory evaluations.
You said, "That is not true that all tenured professors have teaching increases.". The fact is that ALL tenured professors either took a 4.6% pay cut like everyone else or had to increase their workload by 4.6%, which means teaching 1 extra class during the biennium.
Again, your enthusiasm is awesome, but I suggest you use this inner drive to actually research the facts before you post inaccurate statements. Keep up the fight though!!!
Higher Ed already took one of the biggest hits last year with budget cuts... What are we doing??
TO SOFAKINGBORED: you are right in one restpect it is sports that makes us Americans---dumb assed, jock oriented, unthinking, ignorant and idiotic TV watching sports nuts WITH 5TH GRADE LEVEL EDUCATIONS AND MENTALITY TO BOOT. You are also right we do have more people in the Olympics than other nations BECAUSE.. We are a richer nation by far...DUHHHH!
Who the hell cares about the Olympics and all of the B.S. falderall that goes with it....it is nothing more than 'bread and circuses' to take the minds of the masses off of the real problems of the world. While we goggle at athletes doing flips, jumps and whatever on ice and snow there are people in the world planning to blow us off the face of the globe....but, what is more important to Americans...that scary fact or the Olympics?
The Roman Empire declined because of 'bread and circuses' in their colloseums and softening the minds and spirit of the masses of people from their problems of the times; the United States of America is headed in the same direction only it won't be centurires for our decline...we are already on the down hill slope to ruination. Wake up jock heads and see the writing on the outhouse halls of your sport stadia...it is all there for all to see.
You should get out of your small bubble and you will see that increased teaching load or "furlough" has not been enforced in every department. I don't doubt that there are departments that really are following this, but there are also some that are not. So you should get YOUR facts straight.
You can't complain about the merit process. Decades of raises and then a temporary freeze on raises in a bad economy and you are upset?
The "annual review" is not the same as a "post-tenure review". Ask friends at other universities and you will learn that it is not simply at a dept. chair's discretion.
It is amazing that professors are not happily willing to chip in when times are tough. Argue until you are blue in the face instead of having the integrity to sacrifice and make the university a better and more affordable place for students.
stgrock...
see CarsonNewsHound. He is 100% correct.
Yes, I advocate exploring alternative revenue streams over an outright gutting of education.
MINING in PARTICULAR should pay more. Anyone who says otherwise is taking money from mining for their opinion.
You think the Gov's job is to add and subtract big numbers? I don't. It's a LEADERSHIP POSITION, NANCE.
I would like to disagree with the idea that CSN is more cost-effective. It may be. The point is that a community college and a university are different things. Faculty at universities are expected to do research, publish, work with graduate students, etc. They tend to influence their subject field more, and that influence can indeed affect society in profound ways. To suggest that one is BETTER than the other is wrong; to say that they are DIFFERENT from each other would be correct. Unfortunately, few understand exactly what professors do and how and why we do it--and I am not saying that we are not at fault, because we could be clearer about it. But I note the ease with which too many people criticize education without knowing much about how it actually functions.
we should sale unlv's land to the mgm! we can have another casino by 2012.
Michael, I completely understand the difference between a teacher at a community college and a professor at a university. The bottom line though is that UNLV has a lot that they could do to cut back and refocus the university to make it more accessible, productive (in terms of both undergrad and grad student success), and affordability.
I hope that the UNLV President sees this as an opportunity to cut back and redefine UNLV. It would be a great legacy to change Las Vegas by setting UNLV on a path to be affordable (and therefore accessible) to future generations!
nevadaappleslices,
Once again your passion is apparent. BRAVO!!! Now if you could just quote some objective, unarguable facts and we could all take you seriously. I won't pick apart your entire post this time, instead I'll focus on just one glaring inaccuracy regarding post-tenure review. NSHE Code section 5.13 states clearly that it "expects the continued commitment of its faculty to excellence after the granting of appointments with tenure." It allows for tenured faculty to be fired after 2 consecutive unsatisfactory annual reviews. Your suggestion that I "ask friends at other universities" is subjective and not worth rebutting. Why don't you actually do some research and quote the Code at other universities?
By the way, it sounds from your postings that you work for UNLV. Are you classified, professional, or faculty staff? Your answer will help us all understand why you are so angry at faculty members.
azb, you are in a bubble. let's just straighten out facts by posting a link to the merit lists for the past years so that people can see that you are full of hot air:
http://sysapps.unlv.edu/positionlist/
And technically, you are correct that a professor could be fired after 2 unsatisfactory reviews, but at the same time, you are out of reality because some department chairs will not give that rating no matter what. A true post-tenure review should not come down to one person; it should be a committee of peers. (similar to tenure)
I'm not particularly angry at faculty members; I'm only speaking out of fairness. You must be a faculty member and can not take any constructive criticism, which seems to be the trend at UNLV. Instead of rationalizing outrageous spending, how about taking the time to either help make UNLV a better place for students? Too many forget that UNLV is about the students!
Now, clearly, is no time to increase mining taxes. The .5 percent the industry pays on its net proceeds amounts to $30 or $40 million a year on profits of $6 billion. Ordinary taxpayers pay more than that on sales taxes buying food for their families.
And the price of gold keeps going up, and up, and up.
nevadaappleslices,
I'm not in a bubble because I don't even work in academia. I'm an accountant who works in the private sector who has a very good friend who is a professor at UNLV. I have known him for years and have seen first hand that what he does for a living is something I couldn't do on my best day, and I am reasonably intelligent and successful. I can recognize that most professors have very unique skills that the avarage person does not possess. Why do you have such disdain for people that have reached the pinnacle of their profession? You clearly have not reached that level or else you wouldn't try so hard to bring them down. Please tell us all what position you hold at UNLV, is it classified, professional, or faculty?
This is a response to the post by vsestini Feb. 2, 2010 9:30 a.m.
I truly liked your response and agree with you. Further, your intellect tells me you understand this quote (and you probably know who made the quote from your memory)
"Man can only accept what his metaphysical beliefs and life's experiences will allow him to"
nvappleslices: faculty can't take criticism? do faculty tell you how to wash cars? no, so why are you critiquing a subject matter that you have little knowledge.
az, okay, so you don't work there and your information is second hand from a friend. that explains why you don't know what you are talking about. good job, buddy.
Government doesn't belong in our places of worship or where we study.
CUT 100% PUBLIC FUNDING!
: {
nevadaapples,
I have done nothing but quote objective facts and you've stated subjective non-truths. I may not work at UNLV but I know fact from fiction, something that you clearly have a problem differentiating.
I will ask you a third time, WHAT LEVEL POSITION AT UNLV DO YOU HOLD??????? Why won't you come clean and tell us all what you do at UNLV? What are you trying to hide?
az, how do you know that they are "facts" if you only hear them second hand from a friend? I actually post links to real data on UNLV websites. You consider hearsay as fact and have not provide a single link to back up your claims. Get over yourself.
gmag: "Yes, I advocate exploring alternative revenue streams over an outright gutting of education."
I think the mining is a non-starter because of the Nevada Consitution. It will take many years to increase taxes on mining of a significant degree.
"You think the Gov's job is to add and subtract big numbers? I don't. It's a LEADERSHIP POSITION, NANCE."
The Gov is doing what he promised to do and the people elected him on those promises.
At least we agree there is no leadership on the legislative side.
How will Nevada succeed if we continue to make such drastic cuts to education? Businesses don't move to this state, despite it's tax structure, because of education in Nevada from K-12 and higher education.
No one is asking for more tax increases, but you can't cut education to the bone and still expect to live in a world-class state.
nevada,
I cited the NSHE code by section number about how tenured faculty are evaluated. You posted merit listings for a single year which proves my original statement that a very small percentage of the faculty received 4% merit increases. What more factual statements do you want me to post? I also proved you wrong when you said that tenured faculty aren't reviewed. I admitted that I don't work at UNLV and you refuse to tell the truth about your employment. Any rational person reading these comments would conclude that you are full of crap and I am doing nothing but stating unbiased facts. I have nothing to gain or lose one way or the other, but you clearly have an axe to grind against the faculty at UNLV. Nobody will take you seriously if you continue to spout biased attacks without objective supporting evidence.
Agree with carsonnewshound, why do we keep treating gaming like a sacred cow? There is so much untapped revenue there.
Does the Dean of the Law School really deserve $339,500 per year?
Applesclices wrote:
"This opportunity to do major cost cutting now could change the university and make higher education in NV more affordable to future generations."
So the "opportunity" to cut funding is for the benefit of--excuse me while I try to stop laughing so hard-- future generations?
As the guy in the commercial says,
What are you, some kind of rodeo clown?
It is easy to tell those that work at the university and will argue their bloated salaries until they are blue in the face, rather than making constructive suggestions on how to help out with this budget situation. It is also interesting to read how few people don't seem to care about students or future students. UNLV is not only to server employees, but to serve students!
okra...
THANKS! Had me rollin' on that one.
Slices, this may come as a surprise to you, but cutting funds for higher education does not HELP students. In fact, a rational person might think that it's a strange way to show how much one "cares" about the students.
stgrock,
on the Mining Tax issue;
AS YOU ARE AWARE, Nevada could do away forthwith some of the "deductions" allowed the Mining Industry that help them cheat on the meager tax they now pay.
And your claim of "many, many years to increase taxes on mining" is also BS, unless 3 is "many".
okra, do you mean to say getting less and paying more is a raw deal for the students? Huh. I think you might be right!
Nevada never shortchanged higher education http://www.npri.org/docLib/20091012_2007...
We are one of the biggest spending states on higher ed.
The results still stink. Less than half the students even graduate after 6 years.
Yet another agency cutting back when the obvious is smacking them right upside the head, quit spending Americans money on illegal immigrants and other freebies that don't work and have never worked, budget problem fixed.
Also quit pay management a salary in line with the economy and present enrollment. The higher management is overpaid for the services provided and makes too much money for what they actually produce. Fire the deadbeats who are just working to get a paycheck and don't produce anything useful let alone productive.
Lastly, when your building or remodeling, quit having so much overhead administer the contracts and hold the Architects accountable for their design defects and lack of knowledge. Just because they draw lines on a piece of paper and assemble the design team doesn't make them right let alone smart. Today's Architects and designers are the dumbest of dumb, contractors have to staff projects with so many project engineers for document control it adds large sums of monies to the overall cost and the designers are never held accountable.
By taking a few simple steps and actually seeing them through and holding them accountable, budget problem solved. Instead they whine, complain, and use fear tactics to suck money from us taxpayers who have a budget and are held accountable, if we weren't we'd be in the poor house just like the public system.
Very interesting reading so far folks. I teach part-time at UNLV AND I actively research (but have to fund out of my OWN pocket because I don't qualify for assistance). And my head is on the chopping block, not because I am not effective or good at what I do but rather because my position is viewed as expendable. There are many areas in which savings could be made in our higher education system - but whether anyone wants to face it or not, we are still going to fall short on revenue. Getting rid of deadwood and over-the-top salaries is just a base starting point. Look at programs that exist in which there are a very small percentage of majors - there are several at UNLV alone. A huge element - look at the cost to operate buildings throughout the system and MOVE more courses online (a HUGE revenue source!)and while you do that, MOVE the good instructors - part-time and tenure track online as well so we do NOT lose the momentum. While we're at it, let's not just look at education. We as a taxpaying public need to be asking a lot more questions about state-funded budgets in general; I'm personally not seeing it done or hearing the media report on this in depth! I guarantee you, a closer look is going to find areas that can be cut without anyone losing his or her job. The attitude in Nevada's public agencies has always been use it or lose it, and budgets are generally pretty well padded.
As a student at UNLV, I can tell you it is ever apparent services and class availability is shrinking. I do not mind paying a little extra in tuition or fees if this means more will benefit or the level of quality is maintained. I see where the schools are working hard toward trying to buffer the impact to students however many do not fully comprehend how deeper cuts in education at UNLV and CSN will affect them personally or their communities. I don't envy Dr.Smatresk having to deal with the lack of concern and disregard Nevadan's seem to have for education. The public should be outraged at the position Nevada's higher education system has been placed in as any decisions made now will affect us for years to come.
okra, you are small minded. years of excess and waste have accumulated at UNLV. being able to cut back and start over can be a good thing. of course, you seem to understand only the obvious that it hurts in the short term. however, the opportunity to rebuild later and focus on managing quality and costs may be a good thing several years from now. it's a good opportunity for a president as he can get rid of the mistakes of his predecessors and set a new course for the university's future.
gmag: "on the Mining Tax issue;
AS YOU ARE AWARE, Nevada could do away forthwith some of the "deductions" allowed the Mining Industry that help them cheat on the meager tax they now pay.
And your claim of "many, many years to increase taxes on mining" is also BS, unless 3 is "many"."
Again you have a reading problem.
I said it would take years to increase taxes in a signficant manner on mining.
Yes, the legislature could take some deductions away but not a whole lot because the Nevada Constitution says it is a net tax and not a gross tax.
Any deducations that they take away probably will be challenged in court via a constitutional challenge.
They might be able to take away deductions like for advertisment or adminstrative work.
But they will not be able to take away direct deductions like for equipment, supplies and labor.
It will not amount to a whole lot of money.
Again, until they change the Nevada Constitution (which will take years) then there will be no significant tax increase on mining.
It will not help in the next few months.
So silly boy.....the mining tax is not an solution.
What other ideas you have?
Turn UNLV into a fast food college:)
College is a huge scam to get you into debt. High school counselors should be telling students that the only growth industry is collection agencies going after student loan debt. I'm glad that more colossal budget cuts are coming to UCLA.
I agree that there are a LOT of wasted programs, like sports. The universities have just gotten used to depending on government handouts and they have become bloated.
Time to just cut the 10% and let the universities adjust to it.
Do the exigency thing, so u can get rid of tenured professors
stgrock...
I guess there are alot of "silly boys" out there; some of them might be smarter than you.
http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/2010...
Silly...silly...boy....that is a petition to admen the Nevada Constitution...which will take years to go into effect.
It is not a solution to this year's budget problem.
I completely understand....you have absolutely no freaking idea what to do this year's budget problem.
Also...just to show how clueless you are....according to that post...the new tax would still not cover the entire shortfall even it was in effect today.
You would still have to do cuts.
Well, DUH, smart guy!
So, YOUR position is, "we should never do it, because it wouldn't help this year", is that about it? Because every stinking year you say that, and the state is ignorant enough to say that, and people like you believe it, another year goes by that the process is not started, and takes a year longer to get the "ball rolling.". Niiiiice! That sounds so devious, you little devilcon, you!
Why don't you explain to all the boys and girls why you don't think mining companies should pay a fairer share of taxes? Are you a lobbyist for the mining outfits?
I am just saying....it is not going to help this year.
So I guess you are OK with all the cuts that are going to happen.
Sgt James F Nance Jr has already shown he's not too informed about the state NPOM tax.
The reason the mining companies pay so little is due to statutory deductions, NOT the 5% limitation in the state constitution. Statutes do not require a Constitutional amendment to change.
They currently pay 0.5% of proceeds on minerals. Repealing the statutes would bringin 5% of proceeds. The difference is hundreds of millions of dollars.
Let Sgt James F Nance Rock Jr stew in his ignorance.
Furthermore, that could help THIS year. The gov could call a special session and place mining statutes on the agenda.
The state could use the temporary line of credit that Gibbons already got approval for to fund higher ed and pay that back next year with proceeds from the increased revenue from repealing the statutory deductions.
It's not hard, it just requires leadership from your #1 hero Gibbons.
Of course, that's why it won't happen. Gibbons and "leadership" don't belong anywhere near each other.
ksand99....You are alone on the island of ignorance.
The Constitution says it is a net tax and not a gross tax. Stripping away valid deductions violates the Constitution.
You may be able to strip away a few deductions like for advertisement and adminstrative cost but that is about it.
Also, I can see that your are not praising the Democratic leadership because there is none.
Gibbons ran on limited government especially low taxes. So he is showing leadership on the beliefs that he holds.
Also, you must not know that the tax should would fall short in bridging this year's gap anyway.
I think is so funny that you talk about leadership.
Here you are saying that this idea sooooooo great and its Constitutional.
None....Nada.....zero....Zlich........not a single one....not anybody......not even one of your Democratic pals in the legislature is pushing or accepting your idea.
Wow......that is awesome display of leadership there.
Perhaps they all think your idea is lame and leaving you alone on your island.
"The Constitution says it is a net tax and not a gross tax. Stripping away valid deductions violates the Constitution."
Name one other industry that pays 1/100 of their tax rate. You can't. Deductions are "valid" because they are listed in NRS. Once again, your ignorance of basic law is shocking.
"You may be able to strip away a few deductions like for advertisement and adminstrative cost but that is about it."
Wrong. The mining industry is blessed with deductions for nearly ALL business expenses. This is not normal. This is special treatment.
"In any given year from 2000 through 2007, one-third to one-half of all the mines operating in the state produced gold worth hundreds of millions of dollars but reported zero taxable proceeds. "
http://www.lasvegasgleaner.com/mining.ta...
You obviously are a cheerleader for this special treatment.
"Gibbons ran on limited government especially low taxes. So he is showing leadership on the beliefs that he holds."
He demanded tax increases in the last session. His own budget relied on them. Wake up, jfNance32.
As for "leadership" in the Legislature, you are obviously ignorant of the fact that only the Governor can call a Special Session and only the Governor can decree what's on the agenda for that session.
It's interesting to see you can explain and spin Gibbons' rabid defense of the mining industry's special treatment at the expense of Nevada's education system.
You are a lonely bird singing a song that nobody in the Democratic leadership dares to sing because it would be unconstitutional.
You can jump and down...do cartwheels...crawl on your belly....blow bubbles.....it will not trump the wording in the Constitution that says the tax is a net tax and not a gross tax.
You can twink the deductions some but if they dare strip them away or most of them away then that will be declared unconstutional by the 3rd branch of government.
Your pals did not go down this path in the last sesssion nor are demanding it to part of this session nor will they try it in the next session.
You are lonely person with this idea.
The only way to significantly increase the mining tax is via a constitutional admenment which will take years. It is no solution to this year's problem.
Your Democratic pals were hiding under the rocks in the last session where they continue to dwell to this day.
"The only way to significantly increase the mining tax is via a constitutional admenment which will take years. It is no solution to this year's problem."
I never advocated increasing the mining tax. I advocated decreasing deductions.
This is very simple, jfNance32. The difference between net and gross is deductions. Deductions ARE NOT WRITTEN INTO THE CONSTITUTION.
The Legislature has written SPECIAL DEDUCTIONS for the mining industry into NRS. NRS can be changed by a simple majority vote.
Deductions are reduced (not eliminated) and revenue from the mining industry is increased.
Even you should be able to understand something so simple.
Here are some simple facts.
1) No Democrat in the legislature in the last session proposed your idea in a bill.
2) No Democrat in the legislature now is requesting the gov to add this item to the agenda or pushing it
3) No Democrat in the legislature is advocating something in the future to do your idea
You are all alone.
Do you think it is because your idea is not constitutional and Democrats do not want to waste their time or because your Democratic pals are weak?
Which is it?
"1) No Democrat in the legislature in the last session proposed your idea in a bill."
And the situation we face today is much more dire than a year ago and people are seeking new solutions.
"2) No Democrat in the legislature now is requesting the gov to add this item to the agenda or pushing it"
Based on what? You intimate knowledge of the private conversations of Democrats? You've run out of steam, jfNance32.
"3) No Democrat in the legislature is advocating something in the future to do your idea"
Progressive interests around the state are coalescing to modify the provision of the state's constitution through ballot initiative. Once again, you're wrong.
"Do you think it is because your idea is not constitutional and Democrats do not want to waste their time or because your Democratic pals are weak?"
Sgt James F Nance Junior Rock, please explain why you insist on lying that changing state statutes is somehow unconstitutional.
And, for the last time, Democrats don't have the power today. Due to the Governor's ability to limit the scope of the special session, he and he alone is acting in the interests of the mining lobbyists.
Your hero is bought and paid for by the mining lobby.
"Progressive interests around the state are coalescing to modify the provision of the state's constitution through ballot initiative. Once again, you're wrong"
The progressives are moving toward modifing the Constitution which you, in error, think is not needed.
But on the other hand....THANKS FOR AGREEING WITH ME....yes the only way to get significantly more tax money from mining is via an admendment to the Constitution.
Everyday you grow.
Keep up the good work.
The educational industrial complex only knows one thing MORE MONEY. Lets demand results before we give them more money, every year they say things will improve with more money. Lets make the professors teach more classes, make the university find ways to get cheaper books(not a chance everyone is getting a kick back on these) for the students. Put the students first let them park in the closest parking lots they are the consumer. Show us a return on our investment in research before you ask for more. End duplication at our universities. Give the employees less holidays and vacations before you come to the taxpayers, who are lucky to have a job, for more dollars to waste. Education needs restraint and tenure needs to be eliminated so teachers will have to be competitive in their jobs.
Lets go back to the 3 R's and cut all these special programs.
Well, a few things, jfNance32, err James F Nance Jr, err SgtRock.
First, your statement that the idea didn't come up in the last legislature is wrong, as usual.
"Assemblywoman Shelia Leslie, D-Reno, told the Reno Gazette-Journal that the core group of legislative leaders finalizing the state's tax package are no longer considering a plan to take away 40% of the mining industry's tax deductions."
"Leslie said the mining tax legislation was eliminated from consideration when it become apparent the mining tax could cost the support of two Republican state senators from rural Nevada for the legislature's overall tax plan."
So, WHOOPS, you're wrong for the billionth time.
Furthermore, this PROVES that repealing deductions listed in statutes is constitutional.
So, WHOOPS, you're wrong again.
And the icing on the cake?
"But on the other hand....THANKS FOR AGREEING WITH ME....yes the only way to get significantly more tax money from mining is via an admendment to the Constitution."
Not only can you not spell "amendment," but the basis of your argument is a proven lie.
Everyday, I grow. And everyday, you're wrong.
What is stgrock's position on removing deductions? (read; LOOPHOLES.)
What is stgrock's position on raising the mining tax?
Is it stgrock's position that the Mining Industry should NOT pay their fair share to Nevada in taxes?
Why is stgrock so in enamored of Governor Gym and the Mining Industry that backs him?
When it comes to defending Gym Gibbons and the Mining Industry, there is no bigger cheerleader
than jfnance32, our esteemed stgrock.
Is he a paid lobbyist for the Mining Industry?
Is he the president & only member of the Gym Gibbons Fan Club?
Anyone remotely interested in fair taxation in Nevada should talk to their legislators about REMOVING THE DEDUCTIONS (read; loopholes) that Mining uses to weasel out of PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES!
joelipp...
Typically, the idear of a college education is not your basic "3 r's, no special programs."
I assume you are being sarcastic...(?)
gmag or ksand99.....any of your spineless leaders running a "Let's raise taxes a billion or two platform" in this election cycle?
Can you list any?
Why do you guy elected spineless Democrats?
Why do your spineless Democrats ignore your wishes?
Oh, by the way, how much in taxes do you really want to raise? 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 billion? Will $7 billion in new taxes be enough?
Thank you, Stg. Rock, for more of your kind commentary.
Yes, 7 billion. Good, round figure. Lucky number too. Let's go with it. You, sir, are a credit to humanity. Again, Thank you for your efforts. Will you shill for us with your Mining buddies? Mucho appreciato, Sargento. You, James Nance, are "The Man", even if they call you "Junior." Carry on.
Now..you need to take it to the next stage.
Call a big Democratic meeting.
Get all the Democratic candidates to sign a pledge to call for a $7 billion tax increase.
Hurry up before it is toooo late.
You got a mission to do.
Oh....I forgot.
Be sure make them also sign a pledge to push for corporate and personal income taxes.
No, we get it, jfNance32, err, James F Nance Jr, err, SgtRock.
First you were wrong about a reduction in deductions being unconstitutional.
Then you were wrong about a reduction in deductions not coming up in the last Legislature.
Now you think increasing unemployment should be Gibbons' answer to a bad economy.
You would rather see WalMart make millions of dollars in profit in Nevada without contributing to the state's tax burden.
What a typical republican... demanding tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations while actively working to destroy the middle class.
Before, you've said you were ok with a push to increase taxes on the mining industry. I see you're flip-flopping, yet again. I guess having principles isn't high on your to-do list.
I am glad to see that ksand is going to join up with gmag and get Democrats to sign a pledge to raise billions in new taxes during this election cycle.
Get to work.
Hurry up.
The election will start soon.
Democrats need to show courage and stand up for the right thing which is billions in new taxes.