Should Anyone Support Governor's Budget Proposal?
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
Watching the opening round of the legislative discussions on the Nevada budget, proposed by Governor Jim Gibbons, you couldn't help but come to the conclusion that this offering was pretty much created in a vacuum. When members of the Legislative Commission's Budget Subcommittee (most of whom would like to tear most of the proposal up and stick it in the Governor's ear) asked the governor's representatives about whether they conferred with specific entities who were being impacted by the details of the proposal -- the response was "No" they hadn't.
When asked if the counties (Washoe and Clark) who will have their property tax funds rerouted into Nevada's state checkbook under the Governor's proposal were asked if anyone had asked these counties about how they felt about this pilfering -- the response was that "No" they had not been consulted with.
When asked if the Higher Education System had been asked about their 36 percent budget cut -- the same answer was given.
In each case, the counter argument came back along a theme of attempting to justify the means because of the seriousness of the situation.
While the bottom-line may end up with a balanced budget in the Governor's proposal for the coming biennium -- with only the tax increases of the room tax and stealing local government funds to make the income match up with the proposed outgo -- this budget is pretty much based on what those "inside the room" of the Governor's staff came up with. That room doesn't include too many people and certainly doesn't match up with the majority of those who will be deciding what the actual budget is going to be.
If the Governor's proposed budget has any chance of actually being accepted it won't be on the merits of the suggestion, but will be more on the challenge of coming up with alternative in the time-frame that's available.
For ordinary citizens, participation will probably come down to watching the political posturing and interchange of finger pointing that is certain to play out over the next 120 days (after the Feb. 2nd start of the 75th Legislature).
The process, as we've pointed out in the past, makes it difficult for a real "make a difference" type of involvement. Never-the-less, ever effort must be made to do what can be done to provide input and recommendations on budget specifics.
Instead of just complaining about the numbers being what they are proposed to be, there must also be alternatives offered with the input on how those changes can be financed.
To the extent that the reworked budget can be paid for without tax increases, borne by only those who can't duck, considerations will need to be given for these possible enhancements.
The first place to find alternative sources for funding is clearly knowing what priorities in programs should be and determining that those priorities receive appropriate funding. Down-the-list items may need to be nixed in order to cover the things that actually need to get the money.
In any case, it doesn't seem now that there's going to be a big crowd of supporters championing the Governor's proposal.
Watching the opening round of the legislative discussions on the Nevada budget, proposed by Governor Jim Gibbons, you couldn't help but come to the conclusion that this offering was pretty much created in a vacuum. When members of the Legislative Commission's Budget Subcommittee (most of whom would like to tear most of the proposal up and stick it in the Governor's ear) asked the governor's representatives about whether they conferred with specific entities who were being impacted by the details of the proposal -- the response was "No" they hadn't.
When asked if the counties (Washoe and Clark) who will have their property tax funds rerouted into Nevada's state checkbook under the Governor's proposal were asked if anyone had asked these counties about how they felt about this pilfering -- the response was that "No" they had not been consulted with.
When asked if the Higher Education System had been asked about their 36 percent budget cut -- the same answer was given.
In each case, the counter argument came back along a theme of attempting to justify the means because of the seriousness of the situation.
While the bottom-line may end up with a balanced budget in the Governor's proposal for the coming biennium -- with only the tax increases of the room tax and stealing local government funds to make the income match up with the proposed outgo -- this budget is pretty much based on what those "inside the room" of the Governor's staff came up with. That room doesn't include too many people and certainly doesn't match up with the majority of those who will be deciding what the actual budget is going to be.
If the Governor's proposed budget has any chance of actually being accepted it won't be on the merits of the suggestion, but will be more on the challenge of coming up with alternative in the time-frame that's available.
For ordinary citizens, participation will probably come down to watching the political posturing and interchange of finger pointing that is certain to play out over the next 120 days (after the Feb. 2nd start of the 75th Legislature).
The process, as we've pointed out in the past, makes it difficult for a real "make a difference" type of involvement. Never-the-less, ever effort must be made to do what can be done to provide input and recommendations on budget specifics.
Instead of just complaining about the numbers being what they are proposed to be, there must also be alternatives offered with the input on how those changes can be financed.
To the extent that the reworked budget can be paid for without tax increases, borne by only those who can't duck, considerations will need to be given for these possible enhancements.
The first place to find alternative sources for funding is clearly knowing what priorities in programs should be and determining that those priorities receive appropriate funding. Down-the-list items may need to be nixed in order to cover the things that actually need to get the money.
In any case, it doesn't seem now that there's going to be a big crowd of supporters championing the Governor's proposal.
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