Special Legislative Session Begins in Carson City

I don't think I'm alone in thinking Governor Gibbons' State of the State speech on February 8 had an arrogant, "I told you so" tone to it. Since then, what I can only call battle lines are being drawn between the governor and those opposed to his budget balancing proposals. The Nevada Constitution requires a balanced budget, so some serious cutting is going to come out of the special legislative session that begins of February 23. How much isn't an issue. It's how much of the Gibbons plan is actually adopted by a less than compliant legislature.

Of course, everyone is chiming in to say that their particular program or job should not be cut. The way I read it, though, everyone is going to feel the pain, from top state office holders on down to the rest of us. Here are some of the things on the table...

• $310 million cut in state agency operating expenses.
• $11.4 million from increasing furloughs for state workers and closing state offices on Fridays.
• $44.5 million from salary cuts to K-12 and higher education teachers.
• $50 million added from increases taxes on mining.

That last item is interesting, considering Gibbons' repeated mantra of "No new taxes." He claims it's not a tax increase, just a case of clearing up the deductions mining companies are allowed to take. I don't know the tax laws well enough to make a call on that one, but the mining moguls aren't liking it at all and Democrats in the legislature don't think it's enough. They are also not pleased with proposed cuts in education.

Another angle being considered to raise about $50 million is increasing fees on a number of state services, including gaming regulation, state parks, driver's licenses, state museums, court administrative assessments, and various fees charged by the secretary of state's office.

If it was your call, where would you cut and/or raise fees? As this plays out in Carson City, you can follow the action on the Special Session website of the Nevada State Legislature.

As this plays out in Carson City, you can follow the action on the Special Session website of the Nevada State Legislature.

Source: Nevada State Legislature, Reno Gazette-Journal.

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