Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Monday, Sept. 20, 2010 | 2 a.m.
In Today's Sun
BUDGET SHORTFALL
Nevada’s budget director has put the two year shortfall at $3 billion, and that’s after several rounds of cuts in a state government that’s among the nation’s leanest by almost any measure. More cuts undoubtedly will be part of any budget-balancing package.
POSSIBLE CUTS
Gov. Jim Gibbons has asked department heads to propose 10 percent cuts in their budgets, though experts say that’s unlikely to be enough. The proposals have been submitted — agency heads call them “ugly” — but the public won’t get a look until Oct. 15.
Reporters question Rory Reid after his debate on education issues with Brian Sandoval Sunday, August 29, 2010.
Reporters question Brian Sandoval after his debate on education issues with Rory Reid Sunday, August 29, 2010.
Sun Coverage
Sun Archives
- Budget cuts aren’t cause of long lines at DMV (9-15-2010)
- Nevada education chief: Staffing hurt by cutbacks (9-15-2010)
- Most state agencies deliver slimmed-down budgets (9-2-2010)
- Budget cuts threaten construction of children’s psychiatric hospital (8-28-2010)
- Cuts would dramatically shrink Nevada safety net (2-9-2010)
- Governor’s staff proposes $328 million in budget cuts (2-3-2010)
- State budget comes up $800 million short (1-22-2010)
The state budget director asked departments to prepare scenarios describing 10 percent spending cuts. And the state agency heads delivered their reports Sept. 1.
The governor’s office won’t release the documents, but agency heads describe the cuts as “ugly.” Programs for the elderly and disabled will be eliminated. Hundreds of public employees will be laid off. About 3,000 prisoners will be released. School districts will go bankrupt.
But let’s admit: You don’t believe it.
After three years of budget-cutting and belt-tightening and predictions of pending bureaucratic catastrophes, the warnings have almost lost meaning.
Residents have heard the dire predictions before — at least four times during the state’s previous rounds of budget cuts — and the doomsayers were wrong.
Until the cuts are detailed, the public will be skeptical.
According to the state budget director and legislators, these 10 percent cuts will be released Oct. 15. Then, perhaps, the real political debate — in races for the Legislature and Governor’s Mansion — will begin.
Are the proposed cuts acceptable? Are they misguided? Will new taxes be needed? Is there an alternative to balance the budget?
Ask the people, and they consistently say you can find the money by eliminating “fat,” waste and fraud. It’s not just conservatives or anti-government types saying this. Rory Reid, the Democrat running for governor, describes it as too many administrators shuffling papers, “thinking about the same things.”
He proposed a 50 percent reduction in administrative overhead.
Both Reid and Brian Sandoval, the Republican in the race, have vowed to protect classrooms, the elderly and disabled, and public safety. All without raising taxes.
Until the public can see their budgets, who’s to dispute that it can be done? (Reid has released a generic plan to balance the budget; Sandoval has so far refused to say even when he will release a plan.)
Budget experts and conservative and liberal partisans say privately the state can’t balance the budget without additional revenue. The cuts that would be required, they argue, are ones that only the hardest of hard-line libertarians would accept.
But Nevadans have heard that since the cutting began three years ago.
Government at all levels, in all places, is notorious for crying wolf — declaring the sky will fall if it loses a penny. Or doing the really disingenuous thing and threatening to make high-profile cuts to dramatically make its point.
(Conservatives call it the Washington Monument ploy — threaten to cut the most appreciated and visible services first to make the public feel the pain. The name comes from tactics the National Park Service is alleged to have used to protect its budget.)
For the most part, that doesn’t seem to be the case in Carson City. Instead, to balance the budget in prior rounds, the state has borrowed money, raided local governments and reserves built up from fees, and tried to stretch staff and dollars.
Programs have been eliminated. Waiting lists for services such as housing and public assistance have grown.
But agency heads, the governor’s senior staff and legislators have avoided truly gruesome cuts.
Call them victims of their own success. When they predict end-times, the public is now skeptical.
“There will be programs that we’ve operated for years that will be eliminated,” said Mike Willden, director of the Health and Human Services Department. Under a 10 percent cut, there will be staff reductions “in the hundreds.” Offices closed. Services not mandated by the federal government, such as dental or vision care for the poor and elderly, will be eliminated. “It’s ugly,” he said.
Howard Skolnik, head of the Corrections Department, told the budget office that a 10 percent cut would mean 3,000 inmates released. He and the budget office settled on a smaller number to cut, budget Director Andrew Clinger said. He said the percent cut has been lowered and maintains public safety.
Mike Fischer, director of the Cultural Affairs Department, also wouldn’t discuss specifics of his 10 percent recommendations.
“We were devastated prior to 10 percent,” he said. “We’ve cut through the fat a long time ago. We’re emaciated.”
But until he can point to a museum that will close, some might not be buying it.
During February’s special session, for example, when lawmakers turned from platitudes about belt-tightening to the fact that the state would begin eliminating dentures and hearing aids for the elderly and poor, even fiscally conservative Gov. Jim Gibbons compromised on some fee increases.
Here’s the other open secret: A 10 percent cut isn’t nearly enough to balance the state’s budget. A 10 percent cut in agency budgets would save about $660 million over the state’s two-year budget cycle.
The budget hole has been put at $3 billion by Clinger. Consider that some things, such as continuing to suspend longevity pay, step increases and furloughs, will save $480 million. And consider that the economy has yet to turn around. Consider that there have been round after round of cuts over the past three years.
Given all that, some agency directors say 10 percent seems rosy.
When the 10 percent cuts will become public is unsettled.
Under one reading of state law, the date will be Oct. 15, when the executive branch transmits the agencies’ recommendations to legislative staff.
But that hasn’t been the practice of past administrations. Historically, agencies’ recommended budgets have been released in the January before the legislative session begins — in this case, 2011. On the day the governor releases his budget, he gives the State of the State speech, and it goes to the Legislature for discussion.
Those who say that taxes will need to be raised say the public debate should begin now.
“The public and the Legislature absolutely need to know what’s being contemplated,” Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, said. “I would love for one of Gov. Gibbons’ last acts as governor to be to foster transparency by releasing the information and engaging the public in a dialogue about impending cuts.”
She said, “You can only starve these institutions so long before they die. Death is imminent.”
But without any specifics to point to, it will just be rhetoric to propelling the state toward November.
This is happening in the Uk at the moment, they are cutting 25%-40% off budgets, somewhat scary.
by the way sun why are you blocking viewing of this site from outside the USA?
They could EASILY save 10% just by cutting out the waste. That's the difference between the private and public sector.
The Democrats are the party of welfare dwellers, illegal aliens, taxes (never met a tax or illegal alien they didn't like), protectors of the rights of criminals instead of their victims, the lazy, druggies, Wall Street, Union thugs, ambulance chasing lawyers, etc.
Those being released from jail will be mostly thieves who would gladly break a car window to get a pair of sunglasses inside! be prepared for property crimes to explode.
Never mind the Uk. Send someone to New Jersey to see how it's done. The governor of NJ is successfully downsizing.
From what we've seen on TV, New Jersey started with the public schools, downsizing the bloated administrative staffs and having the teachers agree to pay raises that are less than the negotoiated ones, and by trimming down the promises of ridiculously high pensions.
Times are tough-- we can't be afraid to take on the unions who now operate in the public sector. Their salary & benefits demands are out of control, and it's the taxpayers and business in the private sector that have to support that.
The ultimate solution to the high costs of K-12 education will be vouchers.
So the state will continue and take out employee's, programs that are needed for our citizens, before even trying to get a handle on the illegal aliens and call ICE in to enforce our immigration laws. Cleaning up the illegals in our state would save us around $700 million. This would be a place to start as we know we have illegals here and are aware how much they are draining from our system.
Why do the citizens have to suffer more than the federal law breakers.
Our state leaders are aware of this and their decision not to call the feds in for help makes them just as guilty as the illegals here breaking our federal laws.
JanK...
You watch too much t.v.
Vouchers???
You want stinking VOUCHERS???
Okay.
So, your nieghbor, who pays 15 THOUSAND per-year to send EACH ONE of his kids to private school will get SIX THOUSAND BUCKS from your man Sandoval.
YEP.
That'll fix EVERYTHING!!!
No doubt about it.
Good plan.
And Charter Schools are failing our kids at AT LEAST the same rate as our Public Schools.
GREAT IDEA!!!
UNION BASHING...
It's a fun sport, ain't it? And so EASY!!!
The notion that you right-wingers have that ALL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES are still BLOATED WITH FAT is retarded. I don't know if you've noticed, but this is NOT THE FIRST ROUND of cuts, it's like the 3rd or 4th... they'll be cutting THE ACTUAL BONE now...
You like Jersey, JanK?
Yeah. It's nice there...
PLEASE.
I'd rather live in Fargo.
I say, let's hear those budget numbers NOW.
Why are we keeping them "secret" until Oct.15???
I'm sure the GOOD NEWS will help us attract businesses to help us DIVERSIFY our economy!
Read the letter in the R-J today, Jerry Purdy (?).
This state is so corrupt -
Firefighters earn over $150k in wages and benefits and retire at 55 with pensions over $100k.
There are still lots of room to cut.
Children throwing a temper tantrum. It can't be true -- there really is more money than THEY say. It's all someone else's fault.
Any citizen that allows the most vulnerable to be hurt while supporting the sociopathic wealthy in this country is despicable. Hyperbolic statements about waste in government come from those who have been propagandized by conservative media and reflect no actual knowledge of budgets, salaries, or costs for essential programs. But then it is always easier to whine about spending when you don't actually know anything.
I didn't realize that so many teabaggers favored reading the liberal Sun over the conservative RJ.
Wonder why some departments are being told to cut 20%?
I would absolutely LOVE it if my business had to cut JUST 10%!!!!!! I'm down way more than that.
Oh mistermoose, you could not be more wrong. The state workers are overworked, and therefore they are underpaid, even with the unions in place.
If you work for the Thomas and Mack. You can have your whole family work all the sporting events and make a fortune.
riesen, Conservatives, like me, read the Sun to keep up with opposing viewpoints.
Liberals, like yourself, probably read the Sun to keep the warm fuzzy pretend feeling than Liberalism affords. When you are ready to take a hard look at facts you'll wake up.
Fremmasmind: ICE employees are PUBLIC employees.
You wingnuts on the right want cuts but then cry when those services are not there for you. Typical.
You don't want your taxes to go up - you say let them release prisoners...... then you call the police and no one comes because the police are public employees.
Face it - Gibbons has wrecked Nevada, he was too busy with personal issues to really run the state OR he is just this imcompetent.
And to think this baboon was in Washington for years doing absolutely nothing for us just like Ensign.
Judy, ICE is within the Department of Homeland Security which is a Federal entity.
you guys want states rights but then call for the fedaral goverment to help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if constuction slows you down or the roads are messed up you wonder why there not fixed or maintainted you blame the goverment!
i wonder alot about why so many people on this form are so anti goverment? i have an idea why:
you come from this broken education system that has not taught you guys how to think or look at #s all you do is complain
there is no state tax here property is cheep here good roads here nice weather where is your private sector doing? you want jobs but then call for more jobs to be cut? people wake up!
the goverment is not as bloated as you think! nevada does not have many social programs like other states and the ones we do have are mostly mandated by the goverment we have to have these progams! we need school jails police and fire!
and for those complaing that fire fighters make 100k you run into a burining building in this heat wearing 60pds of gear and then tell me if you make enough
1) People have been skeptical because the budget cuts have been smaller than what is reported
2) People are starting to understand the $3 billion shortfall figure comes from backwards budgeting
3) The government does threaten services rather than figuring out ways to streamline services or cut employees
4) Gmag, in 2004 just 21 percent of students attended private schools that charged tuitions exceeding $10k a year.
If layoffs occur, the public employees will share much of the blame. It is strange that despite all of this massive cutting, real (but small by private sector standards) horizontal pay cuts have been off the table. For example, the universities have cut tons of money without touching professor salaries. This is not only bad business, it is unfair. Taxpayers get fewer services, younger (maybe better workers) get kicked out, and the problem does not go away.
A straight, across-the-board horizontal pay cut would do wonders for our budget problems. Those entitled to public salaries guard their pocket books in ways that would make Republican's blush. Too bad the "shared-sacrifice" gaggle on the left does not actually believe in shared sacrifice.
I've proposed it before, so let me say it again: there is a very easy, simple way to solve the budget problems. Have the executive in charge call a government wide snow day(week) and require that all non-essential personnel stay home. Since those people are non-essential, their positions can be eliminated with no problem, and all of the budget woes are solved.
The private sector just does education better, no doubt about it. Vouchers are a real solution. Another ideal, SELL UNLV to a private university fund, or better yet encourage through land grants and loans PRIVATE Universities. School vouchers again, a great ideal. Finally eliminate the unions where possible.
Not quite. They make decisions without us, then tell us what stupid decision they made. What choice do we really have?
ADMIT TRUTH & DEAL WITH IT NOW
Nevada politicians are thieves, STEALING from taxpayers to give Cadillac compensation to public unions while bankrupting Nevada.
IT IS IMMORAL TO CUT SERVICES TAXPAYERS HAVE PAID FOR
IT IS IMMORAL TO RAISE TAXES while we have the HIGHEST paid gov. workers in the U.S. We are the same population as Orange County, THEY FILED BANKRUPTCY, we have 3 Xs the unfunded liabilities to these OVERPAID gov. workers
OVER THE 2 YR BUDGET WE ARE 3 BILLION SHORT and paying 2 billion OVER & ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE to these overpaid gov. workers, like cops & fire at 300% of national average. (NV cost-of-living is EXACTLY the national average)
STOP THIS CORRUPTION NOW
DO NOT EXTEND 1 MORE CONTRACT 1 MORE DAY
FIRE ALL & RE-HIRE at the national average = save 2 billion dollars in 2 years.
THROW OUT ALL political wh0res who put Nevada, Clark County and the NV cities on the edge of BANKRUPTCY.
ADMIT THE TRUTH AND DEAL WITH NOW
The value of comparisons between Nevada and New Jersey is miniamal. The taxes and spending are of a scale and magnitude that have never been seen in this state.
There will be no choice but to cut public sector wages and pensions. They are out of control.
To everyone saying cut the fat and waste out of state government. You have no idea what you're talking about. You don't know state budgets and don't understand what's involved in providing services and running a state agency. Unless you can list line items and costs - shut up, you sound like a fool.
And to everyone who is saying, "Look at this state or that state. They're cutting their budget." Yes, but look at where they are starting from. Most of the states mentioned have state budgets that are at least twice the budget of Nevada. They can cut without damaging programs if not destroying them. Nevada's budget, even before the last three years of cuts, provided substandard education, health care and social services. Where and how do you cut budgets that are underfunded in the best of times?
It's real easy to offer an offhanded "cut the fat" response to budget problems but, unless you know what you're talking about, keep your ignorant comments to yourself.
I'm sorry, what did you say? Can you repeat that again?
David Schwartz McGrath:
The tone of your article shows that you and The Sun's Editorial Board clearly do not understand the mood of Nevada voters. For that matter, neither does the Editorial Board of the LVRJ.
In this time of huge cash flow shortfalls for state and local governments, voters are beyond outraged that public employees are still employed, and still receiving excellent benefits. There have been no material salary cuts and no material benefit cuts, for state and local employees.
Instead, the decision makers (Governor, County Commissioners, City Council, School Board) have decided to cut programs entirely, such as your examples of cutting programs for the handicapped and the poor.
Those voters and taxpayers are going to go absolutely nuts when these programs take effect because they will see that the public employees' pay and benefits have not been cut.
Ultimately, in the post 2010 election cycle, you will see real blood letting, in terms of Nevada voters removing incumbents at all levels of government. Hell hath no fury like the response from voters seeing "pigs at the trough", in the form of the remaining public employees, still taking home fat pay checks, having employer paid health insurance and generous pensions.
By 2014 the fury at loss of governmental services, plus intransigence on the part of public employee unions, will lead to a severe change of viewpoint by elected officials who will need to satisfy public anger to save their own skins.
The bottom line is that it is Nevada's state and local public employees who are destroying the state's governmental services with their greed. If they took significant cuts in pay and benefits now, these programs would not have to be destroyed.
We can deny: (1) the Holocaust, (2) that Nevada's budget, as trimmed, still calls for expenditures about twice its' tax revenues, (3) that the Sun rises in the East, (4) anything else we want to deny. Deniers can go to the internet and find "news" reports from people who think just like they do -- and offer it as "proof." Everyone who doesn't believe as the deniers believe is ignorant.
There is just a problem that is too stubborn to go away and make life easy for everyone: Expenditures are about twice Receipts. That gap is too big to be the result of fudging. Yeah, we need a more accurate method of budgeting. But that won't deal with the big problem. Expenditures = Revenues x 2.
It has to be dealt with. Saying that if the Sun rose in the West, we wouldn't have this problem, won't fix the problem. Blaming Harry Reid for the Holocaust won't get 'er done. Waiting for the new Governor and the next Legislature so we can blame them just means that we are children and not adults.
There are only 4 solutions to this problem: (1) We double taxes, hoping that it will double Revenues; (2) We cut expenditures in half and hope for a better day; (3) we do some of each; or (4) We give up being a State, and let California, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Oregon or the Federal Government be our Mama. Anything else is a fairy tale.
Cynical Observer,
You could not be further from the truth.
You said: "There have been no material salary cuts and no material benefit cuts, for state and local employees".
In fact, State workers have taken nearly a five percent cut in pay (furloughs). Our health insurance premium has doubled in the past two years. We have not received a raise, merit increase, longevity pay or any other "special pay" in two years.That has been said to have saved $480 million state dollars. I think that $480 million just might be considered a cut. Now, our benefits will be cut in half in the next year and our premiums will again double. So really, we haven't taken any cuts? Read and become informed before you post on these sites.
You actually state that the public is upset that public employees are still employed. Now the public wants no public employees, huh? Ok, no one to hand out the unemployment checks to those who are out of work? No one to respond to your traffic accident on the 15? No one to supervise the crook living next door to you? No one to give health insurance to needy children? Great, sounds like a good idea. You must be clueless.
If you want to complain about the pay and benefits of local governments who have not taken the cuts that state employees have go right ahead. I won't even argue with you. Complain about their union contracts and how they don't budge. But don't lump state workers who are not under contract or even eligible to be under contract in with those who are. We have and are currently being cut, both salary and benefits, and when people spew that we are not doing our part it makes me want to puke.
I could submit a budget with a 10% decrease with my eyes closed and in less than 5 minutes. What is the problem?
All of us in business have had to already deal with decreases of 50%, not 10%, and not budgets, actual cuts.
You can gut the County, State and City employees jobs. You can cut their wages, but if you don't start enforcing immigration laws, the cost to our state will grow from $700 million to over a billion a year and none of our unemployed citizens will get back to work.
We are being invaded by a new wave of immigrants. The ones who left Arizona because of their new immigration laws.
Our situation will only get worse.
No control.
No enforcement.
Our troubles are just starting.
TBVegas - See, that's what I'm talking about. You spout off that you could easily put together a budget with 10% cuts. Put up or shut up - let's see some specifics and not hollow blustering.
You may be a business person but, whether you're a butcher, a baker, or a candlestick maker, there's probably a hundred businesses just like yours in the valley . . . private businesses survive or fail based on demand.
There's usually only one state agency to serve a specific need and these have to remain. Unemployment, DMV, public health, etc. can't "go out of business" because they provide essential services and you can only cut them so far before you hinder their ability to perform. I think that after three years of budget cuts, we've reached that point.
So, TBVegas, I wish you luck and hope you survive but, if not, life will go on without you. Not so for state agencies.
No TonyCrago we just want them to go back to their country of origin and fight for their independence with their own government.
We the people are having a hard enough times with our own problems.
I have yet to read in our Constitution or Bill of Rights that we are supposed to take care of citizens from other countries. If they have enough backbone they will take care of themselves and not involve our country.
I believe these illegals who call themselves men are having a hard time taking their aprons off and stepping up to their own plate and let their country know that they want representation and support for their people. I'm tired of seeing all these mexican males calling themselves men when they can't even take their own aprons off and step up to the plate and act like a man. Before long they won't have any country to claim. They'll deserve this one.
"I didn't realize that so many teabaggers favored reading the liberal Sun over the conservative RJ."
We normal citizens call it an opinion based upon multiple diverse sources. Some less scrupulous readers might refer to it as knowing what and how the enemy thinks.
"Any citizen that allows the most vulnerable to be hurt while supporting the sociopathic wealthy in this country is despicable. Hyperbolic statements about waste in government come from those who have been propagandized by conservative media and reflect no actual knowledge of budgets, salaries, or costs for essential programs. But then it is always easier to whine about spending when you don't actually know anything."
Mark communities used to help each other without the government getting involved. People from their church or fraternal organizations would learn someone needed help and mobilize resources to assist them in their times of need. Now churches and private social organizations have been largely marginalized by society, removed from public prominence and their influence has been replaced by faceless bureaucrats with petty fiefdoms doling out social services benefits and the existence of their jobs depends upon maintaining those caseloads (kind of like that gal that was busted a couple weeks ago giving benefits to her husband?). I can see how that works better than an actual community Mark. I really see your point now.
And I like Mark how your first sentence claims irrational hyperbolic behavior by the opposition has caused fear and you immediately follow with your own hyperbole saying that the wealthy are "sociopaths." I'm sure Bill and Melinda Gates and those other billionaires that have pledged half their fortunes to charity will be glad to hear they're sociopaths. Good work Mark. You've certainly converted me....NOT. Mark I'll believe what you say when you post your estate documents on the Sun website showing that you're giving half your estate to charity when you pass.
gbigs - 50% cuts local and federal are needed just to tread water.
So don't raise taxes and sink like a lead weight.
OR
Try GOP ideology.
"If you cut taxes you will increase revenue"
Try that GOP vote getting ideology to wipe out a $3 billion debt. Cut those taxes GOP. Show everyone how cutting taxes increases revenue. Cut taxes to ZERO and watch the revenue roll in.
gbigs - From today: Marijuana Growers Join Teamsters....
This is a CA headline. Unions are DESPERATE for power and cash. Even to the point of recruiting law breakers.
I thought you GOP con artists wanted less Federal Government and more state rights. California is doing what the GOP and Tea Party want. They are trying to get the Federal Government out of their business. They not breaking state law just the Federal Government law.
gbigs
You must either be from another state, or a alcoholic. Anyone that has lived in Nevada knows it has been run by republicans. here is a quiz for you, when was the last Democratic governor. yes you are another example of a person so blinded by partisanship, you couldn't un-lock a door if a Democrat told gave the directions.
gbigs - the government teat is over.
Not for your rich GOP Buddies and Corporations who are awash in more money now than in the last 50 years and still wanting more tax cuts.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. EVERYONE in the public sector from the very top has to take cuts in salary and benefits (pensions included) for the good of all. True leaders of our country and communities would do this. Everyone must make some sacrifices in these tough economic times.
Less Government.
Hire more DEA and ICE.
10% not enough cut 30% and fire all the firemen right away--10k people would take that job for 50% of their pay!
TonyV
Here is your specifics. 30% cut for all making over 200k, 25% over 150k, 20% cut for all over 100k and 10% for everyone else. Don't cry to me about contract either and that you can't do it. You propose it and tell the employees they are part of the solution or part of the problem. If they chose to be part od the problem you file a chapter 9. Why does everyone think it is difficult? This way not 1 person loses a job, no departments close, no services are cut. The only thing hurt is the pride of some stubborn employees that feel like I work for them but they still want the title public servant. You can't have it both ways.
Thanks for your concern about hoping I make it. I do too, but if I don't then I go on your payroll for two years (unemployment).
This problem is so easily solved! So to reiterate- ask for help from the employees and the labor costs as that is the problem. If that does not work cram it down their friggin thoats in a bankruptcy and let them know they don't run things.
@johnmanrules:
Your comments prove what I said. There have been no "material" public employee pay cuts. Material means meaningful.
Your losing 5% of your pay check, and not getting your raises is not a material pay cut.
A material pay cut is something like a 20% to 30% cut in pay and benefits, so that:
(1) All state and local employees could keep their jobs, not just those who have seniority, and
(2) Services to Nevadans, including the elderly, disabled and poor would not have to be cut.
Johnmanrules' comment, as a public employee, simply proves how piggish and myopic public employees in Nevada are.
Take a big pay cut jerk ashes, and join the real world in Nevada.
The reality of cuts in pay and benefits will, in all probability hit home for all public sector employees whether they like it nor not. Economic necessity will dictate it all in good time.
Budget fatigue?
Gold price today $1,285.00/oz.
6 Million ounces mined in 2010.
$8 billion in gold sales
$4 billion in profit and that is with major deductions.
Nevada gets maybe at the most $220 million.
.055 % tax (less than one percent) on gold profits.
Stupid is as stupid does. Go Nevada!
Revision before the onslaught of math dudes roll on the previous stat.
My bad, actually 5.5 % on net profits
Only 2.25% on gross sales.
Long day at the office working so I can pay 8% sales tax!
I believe Alaska oil has a 25% tax?
To gbigs:
I have to laugh when you complain about the amount of taxes you pay. Are you talking about here in Nevada? Let's see, you have to pay sales tax on some items and ...what else? It's obvious you don't work as you seem to post on here from morning to night. No income tax, low property taxes if you own a home; otherwise, there aren't many taxes to pay in Nevada. Maybe you're one of those retirees who came in from another state that had lots of taxes and now you don't want to pay for anything. If that's the case, don't pay, but then don't complain when you don't have the same level of services.
bigs Go back to California Your nothing but a whiner and no nothing about Nevada. I resent when people like you get on these boards and fill it full of BS . Nevada has virtually NO taxes compared to California, and up into last election was a solid red state. Have another cold one, and go whine somewhere else.
Did you know the Clark County School District spent big $$$ this year on PA systems for the classrooms? As a result of that expenditure, they didn't have enough $$$ for textbooks. But you can bet the teachers union will only tell half that story: "We don't have enough money for books!"
That is why the public has gone deaf to these annual doomsday predictions. We're tired of repeatedly only getting half the story. Remember the little boy who cried wolf? If this time a real wolf is here, those of us unemployed or underemployed think the government workers should have been thinning their ranks and ending their automatic COLA's and longevity pay decades ago.
Instead of taking care of a real and known problem that would save our state $700 mill. a year and rid our state of the illegal aliens, you jealous individuals want to make citizens who have done nothing wrong to either lose their jobs or suffer a pay cut. Why make any of our citizens suffer any more. Jealousy is abound when some of you are trying to use our own citizens as scapegoats to hide the one known problem our state has been facing for years. It seems that it would please you Sissy-lak supporters who are just ready to point fingers at citizens who have done nothing legally wrong and are only doing the same job they have been doing for years and using them as a scapegoat. What has it become a Nevada tradition to blame the ones who were lucky enough to avoid the proverbial swinging of the axe? And you people call yourselves Americans.
Why don't you so called American citizens scream your verbal punches at the the main problem in our Nevadan communities that are affecting our citizens chances on not getting a job, causing our hospitals to work in the red, causing our schools to cost more to our tax paying citizens and become an inefficient tool to our citizens children trying to get an decent education.
If you think saving our state $700 million by taking on and eliminating 1 single problem is not going to help our state, but firing citizens and cutting more citizens pay is going to HELP our citizens, you are wrong, we are only going to hurt more citizens by letting these federal lawbreakers to continue to break our federal laws. Some of you people say you don't want to hurt the illegals children, tell me, how much are we going to hurt our citizens and their children if we let Sissy-lak tear at our citizens jobs and pay the way he is.
Take out the foreigners in our country who are breaking or immigration laws and keep our citizens who have broken no laws working and keep their pay intact.
To fremmasmind
The US Government does not want to rid ANY states of illegal aliens. Get used to it. It's not going to happen. I don't think the private sector is "jealous" of the public sector. It is just a matter of fact that the majority of the private sector is making less money in the current economic environment. This pain must be shared by the public sector. If ALL public sector employees from the very top down take cuts in pay and benefits then layoffs could be avoided for many of them.
Your tax cuts at work!
Hey, Turrialba. "Budget fatigue." I like that. Wish I had thought of it.
Hey Cynical,
I proved your point eh? Read my post again genius. It said the furlough was 5 percent and my benefits were slashed and premiums raised, buddy. If you want to put a number on it, I would say that my cuts have been right around 20 percent with benefits and salary. That would qualify under your definition of "material" you word brainiac you. Your post was a bunch of crap just like your reply. You make this junk up as you go along to try to prove your idiotic points. Just keep swimming there buddy.
Jaun says lets cut pay 40 % in line with the economic downturn of the area