Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Governor mum on taxes, school funding formula

Brian Sandoval

Brian Sandoval

CARSON CITY — Gov. Brian Sandoval is playing it close to the vest about any changes he might recommend to the public schools funding formula or whether he will ask for new taxes.

But ending unpaid furlough days for state workers and adding more employees at understaffed state prisons are among his top priorities, he said.

In an interview Wednesday, the governor said it was too early to make any commitments until state agency budgets are finalized later this month and until the Economic Forum meets in December to project how much tax revenue will be available. Sandoval will submit a budget to the Nevada Legislature, which meets in February.

A study of the staffing needs of state prisons was released last month showing that 100 officers are needed to fill vacant posts during the next two years.

“That’s something we have got to do, and it’s part of the big picture,” Sandoval said. “I want to make sure we have adequate coverage in all the prisons and that the correctional officers have the staffing that is necessary.”

Asked about ending unpaid furloughs for state workers, Sandoval said it “is something we are considering” and that “state employees are a priority.”

Asked if he would ask for new taxes, Sandoval said he was “waiting for the agency requests and the Economic Forum before I make decisions in the budget.”

Asked if he would seek to extend sunset business taxes imposed in 2009 during the slump in state tax revenues, he gave the same answer.

The state’s distributive school funding formula, in effect for some 40 years, has been criticized by some as being unfair to the needs of Clark and Washoe counties.

Sandoval said he was working with Dale Erquiaga, the state superintendent of public instruction, on making changes. But he declined to say what changes may be recommended or whether rural counties would lose money.

He also was noncommittal about whether more money will be directed to public schools. And he declined to discuss a 15 percent increase in the budget requested by the Nevada System of Higher Education.

He said, however, that education is a priority.

He said funding for the public schools has been increased every year during his administration and there is improvement in the schools.

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