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Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010 | 1:05 p.m.
Assembly Democrats have committed to lessen cuts in state funding to higher education to 5 percent, even as the state's teachers union pushed back against a similar Democratic commitment to K-12.
Speaker Barbara Buckley asked for a show of hands from Assembly members on reducing cuts to higher education, which Gibbons has proposed at about 13 percent. The response was a party-line vote with Republicans not wanting to commit.
Assembly Republicans, who also didn't commit to reducing K-12 cuts, have expressed concern over committing to reduce cuts without a plan to raise additional money. Republican lawmakers still are split over how much to raise through fees on mining, gaming and businesses.
Yet even within the Democratic base there is division. The commitment to lessen the cuts to school districts to $87.5 million, rather than the $175 million that Gibbons proposed, didn't satisfy the teachers union. In a meeting with Democratic lawmakers, teachers this morning said they didn't want to see any cuts to K-12.
Nevada State Education Association President Lynn Warne said in an interview that the 5 percent cut to K-12 is "absolutely admirable. They're moving in the right direction. But we think they should set the goal at zero."
Sources say a meeting between teachers and lawmakers this morning was more contentious.
The Nevada Legislature is in its third day of a special session trying to close an $887 million budget deficit.
Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said, "There's no way to balance the budget without harmful cuts. There's no way to do it. Everyone affected by these cuts will be upset. But no one will be spared."
"Nevada State Education Association President Lynn Warne said in an interview that the 5 percent cut to K-12 is "absolutely admirable. They're moving in the right direction. But we think they should set the goal at zero."'
What a moron, that Warne is. No cuts to education, even though they have a ton of fat in them, especially in the bureacracy.
Dumb question: Why do we attack Education as the main source, when there are so many other departments that can take cuts? I am not saying this to "Save Education" - God know we dumb Nevadians need it - agreed, nothing is sacred with budgets, but make intellegent decisions here.
Has anyone brought up a salary reduction to ALL state employees (Legislature included?) How about turning off every other street light or every other light in the offices, turn the A/C temp up to 75 instead of 72, make all city empl0yees who get Per Diem - Kill it - pay their own, take away the gas allowance for "employee driven" state vehicles, cut travel out, kill over time...
There are so many "basic" things you can cut that will make a HUGE impact right away on the budget. Normal business have already done most of it to stay alive - how about Government? Havent heard one Government official take a pay cut or reduce head count in their office.
You want help doing it? Hire me for 60% less than what you pay a governement employee, who has studied this budget crisis for 3 yeasr and hasn't come up with any solution.
Contact me and I'll be there on Monday!!
I think the public has been clear. We want a solid education system. We want a diversified economy. Cuts to an already underfunded educational system are not acceptable.
My son has 40 kids in his elementary classroom. Enough is enough.
Zero percent would be ideal, Lynn. Pull your head out and consult a map and a newspaper -- You're in Nevada, and the state is millions of dollars in the hole. Your position hurts teachers and those of us who advocate for quality public education.
BTW, your new ad makes me wonder when you'll announce for elective office -- it's that transparent....
retiredyoungerster -
state workers have already taken a pay cut and are about to get another. All state departments face a 10%+ reduction in their budgets.
Teachers make up 2/3 plus of "state workers" and don't want a pay cut. Education is 55% of the general fund and Health/Welfare are 30% - those 2 departments equal 85% of the budget!! Get real - education has to take a cut! There is a TON of waste there!
Again, teachers make up 2/3 or more of the "state workers" - get it people? you call for pay cuts for state workers - the teachers salaries are the bulk of state workers salaries!
Again, the damn unions causing problems!
I would be willing to bet that non-frontline personnel make up the bulk of the education budget. Office workers, including principals, need to be cut back significantly. Take better advantage of computerized files, for starters. Instead of spending money on toys (aka robo-callers) put that into better data management so that we don't get bombarded with forms every year when the information hasn't changed. That would save money in several different areas.
I won't get on the "teachers are overpaid" bandwagon, but I really question the staffing needs in the office and how much those workers get paid. Throw in the actual district administration and I would suspect there is a lot of fat to be cut.
Cut higher ed more
Union against any cuts.
These people are delusional.
From a scientific perspective Las Vegas and the Clark County School District have simply reached the tipping point of carrying capicity. There are too many students and not enough resources. There are too many workers and not enough places to work. There are too many cars for the road and freeway system to function as designed. Regardless of the outcome of this current "buget crisis" this fact of exceeded carrying capicity will continue. The only solution for survival is a reduction in population and political leadership with a grasp on the BASIC KNOWLEGE of the physical fact of sustainable growth. Las Vegas has been led into this mess by political leaders who felt rapid growth and short term gain are a wonderful thing. Now the real effect of that lack of wisdom and foresight is all that remains.
Effective political leaders are well educated in basic science as it relates to growth and finite resources. We need leaders capable of speaking the phrase "sustainable growth" but that is as remote a prospect as a current leader capable of stating: "gambling is a serious public health issue". The state of the state speaks for itself.
So let me see if I have this right. The teachers union doesn't want any cuts in the education budget. Can this be true?
retiredyoungster is right. Simply tell every state-run agency that their budget will be cut by 15%. Department heads get paid to manage, let them deal with it or fire them and hire someone who can do the job. This ain't that hard.
Note for the above: Capicity meant to be Capacity. Eyeglasses badly needed and spelling cells full of math jargon. Hey I know its not normal! So: Carrying Capacity as in the Grass/Rabbits/Foxes model of high school biology.
Cutting the fat out of Administrative costs is a no brainer but NOoooo, cutting into the take of the superiors is never an option.