Another round of budget cuts confronts school district

The Clark County School District is bracing for $122.5 million in new cuts for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Jeff Weiler, the district's chief financial officer, said that state funding to the district will be reduced by $77.5 million, based on the 6.9 percent cut to education made by the Legislature in a special session. And funding from local property taxes is expected to decline by 10 percent, reducing district revenues by another $45 million.

District employees have been brainstorming for ways to save money, such as consolidating campuses, but Weiler indicated that options are limited.

"We're at the point where we can do nothing but look at salary and staffing levels, unfortunately," said Weiler at a Monday news conference.

The district will be soliciting public input over the next few months as it prepares a new budget.

Because salaries are protected by union contracts, the district cannot "unilaterally" impose pay cuts. The district could order layoffs but would need to cut 400 to 1,200 positions to balance its budget, Weiler said.

Ruben Murillo, president of the Clark County Education Association, which represents district teachers, said contract negotiations are just getting started. He is holding out hope that salaries might be spared.

He said he is telling his membership not to "listen to rumors that salaries will be cut by 2 to 4 percent."

Weiler said the district is asking employee unions to consider salary cuts in the form of furlough days or unpaid leave. He said the district is asking for "shared sacrifice" and small salary cuts to reduce the need for layoffs.

With its loss of operating revenue, the district is giving up $25 million for small capital improvements, money generated by the government services tax. That revenue is reverting to the state.

Weiler said funding for school maintenance has become so limited, "we're basically only doing life safety kinds of things."

Because the state is facing more budget shortfalls in 2011, School Board President Terri Janison said Nevada needs to pass a broad-based business tax to improve revenues.

She said national businesses, such as Wal-Mart, Bank of America and the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which is owned by Arkansas-based Stephens Media, are not paying a fair share.

"If you're going to come here and make money, you need to come up to the table to fund services (so) we can educate your children properly," Janison said.

Carole Vilardo, president of the Nevada Taxpayers Association, said she was surprised by Janison's comments, adding that "fairness is in the eye of the beholder."

Noting that the Legislature has commissioned a study of the state's tax system, Vilardo said she will reserve judgment until the study is finished.

Contact reporter James Haug at jhaug@reviewjournal.com or 702-374-7917.