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October 29, 2003
Who's minding the Nye County store?ACCOUNTING ERRORS CONTINUE TO VEX OFFICIALS; MORE BUDGET CUTS PROJECTED
By MARK WAITE First it was a $1.1 million shortfall in the general fund after revenue from a $12 per parcel increase in landfill fees were supposed to be deposited in a special account specific to the landfill. Now, Rodewald discovered $1.35 million in possessory use taxes that were supposed to be allocated by state law into either a capital projects fund or an economic stabilization fund for natural disasters. A previous Nye County Commission in December 1999 voted to allocate half of the possessory use tax money toward a community college campus. Commissioners last Tuesday decided to take $1.5 million out of a special projects fund the county established using Payment Equal to Taxes for Yucca Mountain. Two contractors on the Nevada Test Site paid Nye County possessory use tax, Bechtel's payment was $1.07 million, and Sandia paid $282,725. Rodewald said the requirement to set aside the funds under state law was totally missed by the county treasurer, assessor's office and the county auditor. "That was apportioned like we apportion most of our revenues. However that's not what we were supposed to do," Rodewald told commissioners. County Commission Chairman Henry Neth said in his three years on the board commissioners have had to patch up the budget a couple of times. But Commissioner Joni Eastley said it now might take a tourniquet. Neth said he'd favor taking $478,000 out of the general fund and putting it into an economic stabilization account, one of the two permitted uses. Asked how much money he'd need, Rodewald told commissioners $1.5 million, preferably $2 million. "At our last meeting the number was $1.1 million short as a result of solid waste alone. This new problem is about a half a million dollars, that's about $1.6 million (total deficit) the way I see it now, with no contingency, no fund balance," Rodewald said. Commissioner Eastley asked, "Why do we only take these kind of actions when we're in trouble? Why don't we practice these things on a normal basis when we're fat? Then we wouldn't find ourselves in situations like this." Rodewald outlined a list of suggestions to cut the budget. Commissioners will hold a workshop Nov. 13, the time hasn't yet been announced. The first step would be a hiring freeze for all county departments paid out of the general fund. Rodewald said the county could save $400,000 by not filling positions currently vacant, adding that would be the least palatable solution. Commissioner Patricia Cox said certain departments aren't going to be able to absorb any more cuts. Rodewald said elected officials should be encouraged to cut employees' overtime costs. In the fiscal year ending last June 30 he said the county had budgeted $33,000 for overtime but spent $624,000. County Treasurer Pat Foster defiantly told commissioners recently she'd have to pay out considerable overtime this year if she didn't get more help. Commissioners Tuesday adopted one of Rodewald's suggestions, buying out up to five years of retirement service credits for employees with over 25 years of service. The concept is to replace them with lower-paid employees. Among other suggestions, Rodewald made: • Purchase only essential supplies and services; • Divide the money-losing motor pool fund between the general fund and road department; • Auction surplus equipment; • Lease or auction parts of the Amargosa Valley Science and Technology Park; • Implement a centralized mailing system; • Charge back towns and organizations for insurance costs; • Develop a program to use as many volunteers as possible; • Delay the transfer of $616,000 to the solid waste fund over a four-year period; • Reduce photocopy costs. Neth repeated his call for privatizing more county services. "Government never has been able to do it as efficiently or as cost-effectively as the private sector," he said. County Manager Mike Maher again raised an issue regarding having to operate two county courthouses 40 hours per week. He hinted at trying to consolidate staff between Tonopah and Pahrump and closing one of the offices part of the time to save utility costs. |
