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May 7, 2004
County at $5.5 million deficit
By HEIDI J. BERTOLINO The $5.5 million shortfall can be attributed primarily to salaries, benefits and supply expenses to the general fund and plans to not augment general fund activity with PETT funds this year. Last year the commissioners augmented spending activity with PETT funds to the tune of $3 million. The commissioners do not plan to augment with PETT funds because they are intended for special projects and not for the services provided by the county. Board members also said that the cost of providing service to two locations within the county was taxing the county's resources. Suggestions to split the county or move county seat operations from Tonopah to Pahrump were presented, but not discussed at length because the commissioners felt it was a long-term solution that would not help the problem of balancing the upcoming year's budget. Nye County Manager Michael Maher and budget director Charlie Rodewald explained the county needed to operate with approximately 65 percent of general fund money going to salaries and benefits and 35 percent going to services and supplies. The proposed budgets from department heads and elected officials have employee salaries and benefits that exceeded those proportions. The budget suggests the county will have no problem meeting capital improvement requests. Many drastic cuts and cost-saving measures were suggested throughout the first day including the changeover to a 32-hour work week, employee layoff, privatizing planning, emergency services, light duty mechanic services, human resources, information systems, buildings and grounds, dispatch and animal control departments. Implementing a wage freeze, a 10 percent cut in services and supplies and transporting inmates from Pahrump to Tonopah were also discussed. Because it was unknown if privatization of specific departments would save the county money, estimates were conservative and when totaled the proposed cuts and suggested increase to revenues did not reach the $5.5 million target figure by the end of the first day's session. The most seriously considered changes were the suggestion to consolidate building and planning departments and increase fees substantially. Revenue increase suggestions included a capital increase for technology systems intended to increase productivity, reducing the tax rate given to the hospital district by two cents, consolidating departments, eliminating departments in Pahrump or Tonopah, increasing zoning, building permit fees and service fees and collecting on revenues that are already due to the county. Commissioners called upon consultant Larry Beller and Associates to gauge the necessary steps in re-opening negotiations with the county's labor unions to discuss the possibility of a 32-hour workweek, layoff or cut in pay. The county's elected officials and department heads rotated through the meeting throughout the day offering suggestions, but most said they needed the money requested in their budgets to operate efficiently and provide the necessary services to county residents. Those over budget in the current year explained why they were unable to meet the county's budget restrictions presented in November. Complications a 32-hour workweek would provide were discussed at length. Some departments would be unable to meet the needs of the communities if the hours were cut, and how could the board enforce the rule. Also, the change would not affect salaried employees or elected officials. None of the officials wanted to increase taxes but all wanted to increase permitting fees and other service fees wherever they were able. Henry Neth suggested the sale of county land, but Commissioners Patricia Cox and Candice Trummell wanted to wait until the county was finished with its strategic planning sessions. The sheriff's department, the largest of all the county budgets wasn't presented on Wednesday and the commissioners expected to hear from Sheriff Tony DeMeo early Thursday to discuss changes in his department. Throughout the meeting DeMeo's office was criticized for its inability to live within the budget established by the commissioners. |
