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StumbleNorth Las Vegas residents hear presentation on budget woes
Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010 | 1:50 a.m.
Shari Buck
Sun Coverage
Budget shortfalls were the focus of a town hall meeting in North Las Vegas on Tuesday hosted by Mayor Shari Buck.
About 100 North Las Vegans attended the hour-long meeting at city hall as Buck and other city officials answered residents’ questions.
Much of the meeting consisted of a presentation on the city’s budget, presented by acting City Manager Maryann Ustick. Consolidated tax, which makes up about 20 percent of the city’s general fund revenue, is down 26 percent compared to last year, Ustick said.
The city council had outlined core services, including law enforcement, that it felt members couldn’t cut. Other service priorities included road maintenance, libraries and emergency response systems.
“My highest priority is public safety,” Buck said. “I think that’s the responsibility of government.”
To help with the shortfalls, the city already has made five rounds of budget cuts since December 2008, Ustick said.
“The good news is there are some signs of economic recovery coming,” Buck said.
“We are hopeful,” she added. “We are realists, though.”
As the epicenter of the foreclosure crisis, Southern Nevada is expected to emerge from the recession more slowly than other parts of the county, Ustick said.
“The financial picture continues to change,” she said. “We sure hope it gets better.”
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We Nortowners are lucky to have the leadership of Shari Buck during this crisis!
What time was this meeting and where was it announced in advance?
North Las Vegas employees work 36 hours a week, yet they are paid for 40 hours (lunch hour is on the taxpayers dime). How about eliminating this ridiculous perk?
The statement: "The city council had outlined core services, including law enforcement, that it felt members couldn't cut. Other service priorities included road maintenance, libraries and emergency response systems." presumes that there's no waste or low priority spending going on, nor any cost-savings measures that could be implemented relatively painlessly, within those areas. Very, very few taxpayers actually believe that. The mayor & council needs to start doing a line-by-line scrub of every single department, agency, and office that receives city funds -- and that especially includes "core services".
IF SOMEONE IN VEGAS WAS SMART THEY WOULD TAP INTO ALASKA.
OFFER PACKAGES FOR 300.00 AND FILL EVERY PLANE COMING YOUR WAY. YOU PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO MARKET AND GET US TO LAS VEGAS. ALASKA AIRLINES CHARGES AN ARM AND A LEG TO GET TO YOU BEFORE WE EVEN LAND.
MARKET CHEAP TRAVEL, SUPPLEMENT THE AIRLINES AND FILL A PLANE A DAY OUT OF ANCHORAGE. THATS A THOUSAND PEOPLE A WEEK WHATS MORE WE HAVE MONEY TO SPEND THERE IS NO RECESSION HERE.
I MEAN DIRECT FLIGHTS NOT A STOP IN SEATTLE.
DIRECT FLIGHTS ANHORAGE TO VEGAS.
The City of Las Vegas' proposed budget cuts suggest the closure of Reed Whipple Cultural Center. This historic building is not only home to the Rainbow Company Youth Theatre and the Las Vegas Youth Orchestra, it is the site of countless theatre, music, dance and art classes, and performances of all mediums.
Please sign this petition and tell the Las Vegas City Council that the closure of Reed Whipple would be a devastating blow to the arts, cultural and educational community of Southern Nevada.
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/sa...