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AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli
Gov. Brian Sandoval acknowledges the applause of lawmakers and guests after entering the Nevada Assembly chambers to deliver his first State of the State speech before a joint session of the Nevada Legislature in Carson City on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011.
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011 | 10:20 a.m.
Budget cuts
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KSNV coverage of Gov. Brian Sandoval's proposed state budget, Jan. 25, 2011.
Beyond the Sun
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If the state Legislature adopts the budget Gov. Brian Sandoval proposed, Clark County would lose $150 million in tax revenue over the next two years and inherit $100 million worth of funding responsibilities.
Jobs would be lost, services would be cut and buildings would be shuttered, county officials said.
Preliminary analysis of the proposed cuts paints a scary picture, according to Clark County administrators:
* More than $58 million a year from county property tax revenue would be permanently shifted to the state. The money previously paid for parks and recreational facilities (which created hundreds of construction jobs), and services to abused and neglected children, homeless people and the medically needy.
* An additional $32.5 million, also derived from property tax revenue, would be shifted to the state over the biennium.
* Medicaid reimbursements for University Medical Center would be cuts by 5 percent, shifting more than $2 million in annual costs to the county. That comes on top of the more than $20 million the governor and Legislature already slashed from the public hospital's budget. Maternity, neonatal intensive care and psychiatric care would be hit hardest.
* Pre-sentence investigations would be transferred to district courts from the state Parole and Probation Division at a cost of more than $5 million a year. The change would result in 77 layoffs of state employees, county officials said.
* Elder protective services would be shifted from the state to the county, at a cost of $2 million over the next two years.
* The Community Triage Center, which provides crisis intervention, mental health and substance abuse assessment, drug and alcohol detoxification and homeless outreach (diverting many people from jail or emergency rooms), would likely close. The center is funded through a partnership between the state, county and local hospitals, and the funding sweep would cause that partnership to dissolve.
* Clark County would be responsible for paying for a larger portion of costs for nursing home services for low-income seniors and disabled people. County officials estimate a $24 million bill over two years.
* The county would lose 14 percent of its child welfare budget if funding is converted into a block grant as proposed by the governor. Sandoval also wants to eliminate TANF emergency assistance funding for counties - a $1.6 million, two-year hit statewide.
* Funding for child support enforcement staff in the District Attorney's Office would be eliminated, costing that county between $1.4 million and $2 million over the biennium and resulting in 14 layoffs.
* The Spring Mountain Youth Camp, which rehabilitates troubled youth, could close.
* The Community Corrections block grant would be eliminated, resulting in 11 layoffs of staff who supervise troubled youth to prevent them from being institutionalized.
* Clark County would lose $4.3 million over the next two years to pay for room and board for young people in treatment facilities.
* Funding for the treatment and rehabilitation of juvenile sex offenders would be eliminated.
* The responsibility of providing parole services to young offenders would be shifted from the state to the county, at an estimated $11 million cost over the biennium.
* State funding for Mental Health Court would be eliminated.
* Costs for developmental services for disabled children would be shifted to the county, costing Clark County $6.5 million over two years.
* Clark County would be responsible for paying for tuberculosis and sexually transmitted disease programs. Medical care related to tuberculosis would likely cost the county $1.2 million over the biennium. Costs for care of people with sexually transmitted diseases is estimated at $14,000.
* Funding for consumer health protection and emergency medical services would be shifted from the state to the county.
“It’s very unsettling to see how much the governor’s proposed budget would rely on the citizens of Clark County to solve the state’s deficit,” Commissioner Mary Beth Scow said.
"The services that local government created should be the local governments’ responsibility and those services created by the state should be the state’s responsibility,” Commissioner Tom Collins said. “I would suggest the governor more seriously consider what is the state’s real responsibility.”
"Jobs would be lost, services would be cut and buildings would be shuttered"...
Sounds like a winner, B.S.!!!
child support enforcement would lay off 14? sweet all the dead beat dads (and some moms) will now have zero to worry about. nevada already ranks in the bottom for child support enforcement imagine how much worse it'll get now.
Is this more of the smaller government some people have been demanding?
The truth hurts. Nearly everyone will agree that budget cuts need to be made, but only as long as it doesn't affect them.
Personally, I agree with Darwin's theory of natural selection. It's all about survival of the fittest. Those who are not self-sufficent and those who don't contribute to society must suffer. If drug addicts and AIDS victims must die, so be it. We didn't need them anyway.
On a related note, in the most recent elections, seven new judge positions were added to Clark County. I would like to know what this is going to cost the taxpayers (salaries for the judges and support staff, office space, computers, paper & supplies, etc.). The County administrators should take these expenses into consideration before they start crying the blues?
What happened to Car Washes and fundraisers?? Bake Sales?? We can get out of it I bet... Looking at how much money is raised for political campaigns, I don't think it would be too hard for the County to stabilize itself if people actually were willing to put a little elbow grease into it.
These numbers above re: layoffs are simply unacceptable and crime will rid all of Clark County. Mental people just harboring in the streets, and the homeless population will go up. We will turn into Mexico which is ran by the Drug Cartel right now... Say goodbye to your beautiful Las Vegas Lifestyle.
Chappell, your natural selection comment is pretty hard core. Innocent AIDS victims do exist, you know? It's not just people that participate in orgies.
I'm not terribly concerned about the jobs, I'm more concerned about the services. Government shouldn't exist to employ people. People are necessary to accomplish certain tasks. We shouldn't artificially inflate the employment number with unnecessary jobs. I think a lot of those types of jobs exist in this (and every) state. We need to trim the fat, and that's the reality of the current situation.
These cuts have affected me, and it's very likely that they'll dramatically affect my family. It doesn't change how I feel about gov't waste.
You will pay more and get less, get use to it. Blame whoever you want, it won't change a thing.
"If drug addicts and AIDS victims must die, so be it. We didn't need them anyway."
--- chappell
seriously?
"Innocent AIDS victims do exist, you know?"
are there guilty AIDS victims?
Well that is what we get for electing him.
Sandoval has cost the State of Nevada even more jobs now. He said he was going to bring jobs. At least he could be a "stand up leader" like several Republicans in Congress who have given up their taxpayer paid for medical care for themselves and their families.
Walk the walk, Brian, don't just talk the talk. It is time for Sandoval to step down, he is a failed leader following in the footsteps of Jim Gibbons.
If "government" healthcare is bad, then give-up yours.
@chappell...
Whoa!
Is this what it's coming to with the Tea types???
Holy smokes...
I assume you are not a God fearing man.
Sounds to me like they're going to take from the south and give to the north. Why, why, why do we continue to support them, particularly since I can't see one single thing they give in return. Oscar, start the secession. We'll vote you in as first governor.
No, really, the south needs to do this.
Misery loves company, I guess.
Why else would you desimate functioning (for the most part) county and city governments if not to bring them down to the state's level of despair and disarray.
It's a pretty neat trick. Sandoval rapes, pillages, and plunders the state so that HE doesn't have to raise taxes but the cities and counties do and the Regents have to raise tuition. Not his problem, he's a hero for standing up for "the little guy."
We know who he's serving. It's all about his rich Republican masters and, as far as he's concerned, the little guy can go straight to hell.
The banks and the lending companies are the main cause of all these problems for lowering their credit standards. Why does the public have to pay for it and not them??? The Governor just doesn't get the picture...
What did you think would happen? People need to be laid off, buildings need to be shut down and services need to be cut. You cannot expect people to pay taxes when they cannot even pay their mortgages. Welcome to the real world, people.
Sandavol is a true leader, one that is williing to make the difficult decisions and one who keeps his word.
What did we think would happen? We hoped Sandoval WOULD make the tough decisions rather than continue on with the failed policies of the past.
Doing nothing isn't a difficult decision. Having the courage and fortitude to do whatever is necessary to provide the most basic levels of services is what separates a leader from whatever Sandoval is.
Yes, times are tough but his budget is carried on the backs of children, the elderly, and those that can't speak for themself. All of this to the benefit of the rich.
The state is going to cut psychiatric care? Are they nuts?
Looks like a lot of state workers posting again today I wonder if they are doing so on the taxpayers dime?
Harry and Sherry could have contributed 50 million dollars to the states deficit if they would have just cut the cards for the senators job and gave their campaign funds to the Nevada treasurey butt I guess nobody cares.
Now I guess we will need to 'man up' and legalize prostitution and illegal drugs so our teachers can instill 'values' in our students and teach them how to compete for jobs in nevada.
Prostitution intro 101, and reefer rolling could be new classes to go along with our present bed making and room cleaning classes for the honor students.
As I stated before the election when Mr. Sandoval refused to give anyone any idea how he would balance the budget.
He is playing a shell game with the money and services.
This is not balancing the budget, this is just delaying positive actions to fix the problem and taking the responsibility of the problems from the state level to the local level.
Really is to bad he won't man up and make the hard decisions that need to be made.
Cut benefits and salaries of state workers to the level of the private sector and other states. Cut programs this state can no longer afford.
It will have to be done, now or later. Should be now since we are close to the bottom it won't hurt as much.
Nevada will come back, we are not the only state in trouble but it is going to take time and some drastic reform. To bad you did not elect a man that can take the heat and do the job right.
"You cannot expect people to pay taxes when they cannot even pay their mortgages. Welcome to the real world, people."
So that's your real world? Full of exaggerations and generalizations? Did you not read yesterday's article on how 23% of foreclosures were from households that could afford the mortgage?
And the increase of 100,500 households in NV since 2000 that have an income of $100k or more (US Census Bureau, 2009)?
And the Canadian-owned mining companies milking OUR gold at $1,350 an ounce?
Finally, here's some "real world" homework: please research the change to the gap between the rich and poor over the last decade. I think that you will be surprised.
Oh but SandOval will not raise our taxes..... he is just forcing local governments to impose fees and taxes to keep our local governments from closing down.
bend over Southern Nevada, Brian is here.
Maybe when we cut those jobs it could be, oh I don't know, the A/C repairman who makes over $200,000 a year?
What some people don't want you to know: we can have more effective government at a lower cost by focusing on - you guessed it - the people, not government employees.
Nice let the rape of Clark County and Southern Nevada begin. We now know where Brian Sandoval stands and it isn't with Las Vegas or with the rest of Clark County. Too bad it will take four years to get rid of this loser.
OK he is going to balance the budget on the backs of Clark County. 2 million people in this county and 3/4 million rest of state. Maybe the services of Reno and Sparks need to reduce. I always thought you have more services where the people are not the cow counties. Been like this for 41 years I have lived in Clark County. My favorite saying we live in the plastic Nevada and the real Nevada is Reno and the cow counties.
Chunky asks:
How much of those expenses that will be transferred to the county's responsibility are related to services the state and county provide to illegals?
It doesn't seem like the illegal alien thing is going to go away but what does it cost those of us who pay the taxes that provide services to them?
That's what Chunky is pondering this evening!
How much would be saved if NRS288 were re-written and various groups of public employees were put on a straight salary instead of collecting overtime?
Is this what the grunting during the speech was all about?? I feel a bit used.....
Is it time to legalize prostitution and marijuana in Clark County? If our society is going the direction of Mexico, we may as well go all the way! Since our education system is going from 46th in funding to third- world country funding, the workforce for these industries should be plentiful in years to come. We wouldn't want a 1 or 2 percent state income tax- now that would ruin the state!
Regarding a state income tax: What percentage of land-owners live outside the state and would never be subject to it? It seems to me that a state income tax would place an even greater burden upon the shrinking number of those who still have jobs. Raising property taxes would at least affect all property owners even if they do not reside in this state but still enjoy the benefits (i.e. fire protection) paid for by those taxes.
With an increasing number of non-resident land owners that has resulted from the depressed housing market I think this would be a major consideration.
Still going down after the 2008 stock market crash and only the Hoover blankets are increasing in value.
"* Pre-sentence investigations would be transferred to district courts from the state Parole and Probation Division at a cost of more than $5 million a year. The change would result in 77 layoffs of state employees, county officials said."
Don't feel too bad for these State employees. Many of them will be retiring with full retirement benefits since State will have to buy out their service credits up to 5 years to the tune of $40,000 to $50,000 a year per eligible employee, depending on their age. that's up to $200,000 and $250,000 contribution to PERS for each eligible employee, folks. See NRS 286.3007. What is this Governor thinking...
The county needs to levy taxes on the casinos, businesses and even perhaps individuals as well in order to fund some of these programs.
@easyrider: What exactly do you mean by "full retirement benefits"?
Easyrider may be exaggerating a bit with cost, but probably not by much. This could be a sweet deal for many of them if they are at the right age and/or with number of years contributed to PERS. Even if they are a little short in time to retire, a small penalty to immediately start collecting retirement should be very enticing too. Good for them since they are getting screwed by the governor, but bad for the tax payers. That goes double for Clark County tax payers since our tax dollars will be used to buy out their years and more of our tax will have to be spent to hire people to do their jobs. Even worse, county pay is far higher for same type of work with collective bargaining, so expect that 5 million dollar cost to double in no time.
Looks like all Social Service Stuff to me. Maybe it's time to let the churches run some of the programs.
IT'S ABOUT TIME--the County, City, School District can't seem to figure it out on their own. Maybe Nevada has to do a New York and take over county finances. CUT local government employee pay by 20% OR MORE. There is just no excuse for these excessive pay scales. That's why the voters told Rory to take a hike--inability to make good decisions with taxpayer money.
The need to make changes and yes, cuts to the budget, is not in dispute. What Sandoval delivered in his State of the State address was more than an itemized list of those cuts: it was a spotlight on his personal values. They scream for all to hear that education and jobs are not his priority.
Let's just assume that the state's primary goals in the next few years is to bring business that provide high quality jobs to Nevada. Does anyone think that these sorts of cuts in services will help?
There's got to be some thought as to the ROI of these decisions. As has been stated many times, good businesses need more than low taxes. Employees have to want to move here.
Perhaps if government was run more efficiently we would not be in this mess.
For example, Clark County School District:
$2.1 BILLION / 300,000 students = $7,000 per student
A classroom of 30 students requires $210,000 per year to operate. And this is only General Fund obligations -- salaries, utilities, instructional materials, liability insurance and transportation.
$210,000 to educate 30 children for nine months -- are you kidding me?
The system is obviously broken. Raising taxes will do nothing to fix it. Thank you Governor Sandoval for having the courage to say enough is enough.
Government wants more money. Nevada taxpayers say "NO"!