X

What was cut, what was saved, other details

Because of declining tax revenue caused by the deepening recession, Nevada’s government faced an $887 million budget shortfall, requiring a 20 percent overall cut in spending over the next 16 months.

What was cut?

■ Total spending reductions ordered for state agencies were about $314 million, less than 10 percent of what they were scheduled to spend between March and June 30, 2011.

■ State support to public education was reduced by 6.9 percent, $117 million.

■ State support to higher education was reduced by 6.9 percent, $46 million.

■ The Department of Health and Human Services was cut by 10 percent, $108 million.

The remaining shortfall was covered by:

■ $197 million in unspent state funds held in state agency trust accounts was used to cover a part of the shortfall.

■ $62 million in extra revenue is to come from mineral taxes paid by mining companies with higher-than-expected net proceeds.

■ $25.7 million is to be raised by a temporary, one-time increase in annual mining claims fees. No fee will be charged to those with fewer than nine mining claims. The charges are $70 per claim for 10 to 199 claims, $85 per claim for 200 to 1,299 claims and $195 per claim for 1,300 or more claims.

■ $13.8 million is to be raised by increasing the fee lending institutions charge for filing a notice of default, or foreclosure against a homeowner. The fee will be raised to $200, up from the current $50. Small businesses now can participate in the foreclosure mediation program.

■ $105 million in federal funds is to be used to cover part of the deficit.

■ $25 million from a Clark County School District capital improvement fund is to be used to reduce teacher layoffs.

■ $5.3 million is to be saved in lower utility costs by implementing a four-day, 10-hour a day workweek in most state agencies starting in July.

■ $4.2 million is to come from higher fees that will be charged by Secretary of State Ross Miller to companies incorporating in Nevada.

■ $56 million in sewer and water hookup fees is to be taken from a Clark County reclamation fund.

■ $6.1 million is to be gained from a lower-than-expected caseload in the Nevada Check Up program

■ $7.6 million was taken from the fund used to support the Millennium Scholarship program. Even with that action, the program is expected to remain solvent until 2015.

■ $10 million is to be saved by reducing the number of contracts the state executes with private businesses.

■ $10 million is to be secured as the Department of Taxation hires new auditors to collect unpaid taxes and launches a new tax amnesty program.

■ $10 million is to be raised as the Division of Insurance hired auditors to collect unpaid insurance premium taxes.

■ $5.9 million is to be raised through higher fees charged by the Division of Water Resources.

■ $4 million is to be raised by increasing fees for investigating applicants for gaming licenses.

■ $1.5 million is to be raised by increasing the costs the Athletic Commission charges for licensing and broadcasting boxing and other events.

What was saved?

■ The Casa Grande Transitional Housing Facility in Las Vegas is to remain open at a cost of $2.2 million over the next 16 months.

■ The Nevada State Prison in Carson City is to remain open at a cost of $12.6 million, saving 136 jobs.

■ The Nevada Equal Rights Commission is to remain open at a cost of $1.1 million, saving 20 jobs.

■ All 21 Nevada state parks are to remain open by charging higher entrance fees to cover the $5.1 million in annual costs formerly paid by the state.

■A program to provide diapers for incontinent senior citizens and disabled people was saved at a cost of $800.

.....We hope you appreciate our content. Subscribe Today to continue reading this story, and all of our stories.
Subscribe now and enjoy unlimited access!
Unlimited Digital Access
99¢ per month for the first 2 months
Exit mobile version