Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Advisory committee members recommend raising taxes to save services

CARSON CITY — While many bemoan the cutbacks or elimination of state social services in the proposed state budget, at least two members of a state advisory committee are suggesting tax increases to stave off the reductions.

Under the proposed budget, funding would be eliminated for programs such as Family to Family, Problem Gambling and for tobacco cessation grants.

“We going back to the Dark Ages,” said Jan Gilbert, a member of the Grants Management Advisory Committee that met Wednesday.

She said people “should step up and start talking about both sides of the issue,” meaning higher taxes.

Mike Husted, a committee member from Las Vegas, said the group’s “energy should be focused on the revenue side.”

A survey in Southern Nevada showed that taxpayers would be willing to pay more if they knew what they were getting, Husted said.

The committee was briefed on the reductions and elimination of programs by Mary Liveratti, deputy director of the state Department of Health and Human Services, who advised this was only the first go-around. The final decisions will be made by the Legislature.

Gov. Jim Gibbons has ordered agencies to prepare a 10 percent reduction in their present budget to help fill a $3 billion hole in the state’s budget.

The state will save $1.5 million over the next two fiscal years by eliminating its Family-to-Family program, $2.8 million by abolishing Problem Gaming and $2.6 million by cutting out tobacco cessation grants to local agencies.

Gilbert said the last two tax packages brought little protests.

But both candidates for governor, Democrat Rory Reid and Republican Brian Sandoval, have said they oppose any tax hikes.

Liveratti said some of the reductions in state funding would mean less federal money coming into the state. She said there was a “tussle” between the state and counties in trying to push off programs.

Diane Vargas of Las Vegas complained that welfare funds would be eliminated to help two-parent families raise their sons and daughters. “We have to make sure we don’t abuse children,” she said.

Alanna Fitzgerald of the Family to Family program in Washoe County said 700 families are served. The program helps prevent child abuse and neglect by mentoring parents.

Fitzgerald called it a “tremendous loss” and predicted there would be an increase in child abuse.

The budget cuts in Medicaid, the health program for the poor, call for eliminating payments for dentures, hearing aids and prosthetics services for adults. It recommends a 5 percent reduction in reimbursements for hospital care and $20 per bed for skilled nursing rates.

Also, the 96-bed Summit View Correctional Facility in North Las Vegas for juveniles would remain closed. The state still owes $9.8 million for its construction and may try to sell or lease it.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy