And in recognition of balancing the budget on their backs...

Gov. Jim Gibbons has proclaimed May 4-10, 2009 as "Nevada State Employees Recognition Week." Really.

Comments

[Judy]

Oh fuck me, what a beautiful certificate!

[Michael Green]

He wouldn't recognize me. I'm not a well-built, drunken cocktail waitress who he needs to help to my car. That IS all he was doing, right?

[lareno]

wow. the irony of this is so deep!

[NevadaSucks]

From that proclaimation:

"WHEREAS, Nevada State employees always seek ways to use taxpayer resources wisely and implement high-quality services at a lower cost; and"

OK, so what's not to agree with there? The Governor advises, and the Legislature enacts, the employee obliges. State employees -- all for all and all for one.

I wish I could leave, but I'm stuck.

[Scorpiogal]

@ Judy,
tff...tff.

[kickboxermomma]

I had big hopes for Barbara Buckley to show leadership this session. Ain't happenin' Jeezes I expected this no nothingness from Rory. Then all the crap is exacerbated by mr. no name in the governor's mansion. God I'm sick of this crap.

[CybScryb]

Hopefully a few reasonably intelligent folks will stumble across the remains of Nevada in the distant future and figure out what band of mentally deficient imbeciles decided cultural extinction was the best way.

[dave404]

One of the budget issues that bothers me is the apparent lack of any publishing of accurate data on shortages year over year.

I just read in the tabloid today that general fund revenue for the next biennium is estimated at $5.5 billions, or "$300 million less than last biennium". Looking at government reports, the general fund in current biennium was set at $6.2 billions, and thus the general fund shortage should be about $700 millions and not $300 millions. Then there is the talk of a $3 billions shortage. ?!

Where oh where is the truth to be found?

BTW, if the $833 millions tax increase of 2003 indexed for inflation is $969 million today. Just saying. No "B" word is allowed I read.

[Digger]

Giving all state workers a pay cut and an increase in the cost of benefits will lead to more home foreclosures and less money for them to spend on area businesses (including "locals' casinos). So, this helps to pull the state out of recession how?

Buckley has dodged the corporate income tax issue. So, the legislature will continue to let out of state companies (like HCA) rake in the dough here and spend it back in their home states (or countries). Wacked.

[atdleft]

Digger- Yeah, I don't get it either. And I don't know what's worse, Nevada pols freaking out over "The T Word" or California Thuglicans trying to convince the rest of Sacramento that Carson City's antics deserve to be emulated there and nationwide.

[atdleft]

kickboxermomma- Yeah, what happened? I was concerned about Rory Reid. But considering Buckley buckling under GOP pressure on real tax reform, how is she better than Rory Reid? Why are we to believe she'll be more likely to enact a progressive agenda for this state than Rory Reid? While I believe either of the Dems would make a far better Governor than Gibbons or any other Thuglican, it'd still be nice to be able to choose the better of goods rather than the lesser of evils.

[dave404]

Economic Forum (EF) projected general fund (GF)revenue May 2007 @ $6.836 billion;

December 2008 EF projects GF revenue will be $5.832bn or $981m less than their May 1, 2007 projection. But their math seems wrong: $5.832bn +$981m= $6.813bn. However, EF published May 1, 2007 report's projection was $6.836bn, not $8.813bn, so that means a $1.004 shortage not $981m (this is a $23m discrepancy).

December 2009 EF determines 2009-2011 GF revenue to be $5.656bn or $175million below revised $5.832bn 2007-08. So, based on their prior $981m shortage + an additional $175m shortage= $1.156 short as compared to 2007-2009. However, as the original May 1, 2007 projection is $6.836bn, shouldn't the shortage be $981m + $175m +$23m = $1.179bn?

The May 1, 2009 EF revenue projection for the GF 2009-2011 is now $5.5bn, which is revised down from their December 2008 projection of $5.656. This is a decrease of an additional $156m.

$981m + $175m + $23M + $156m = $1.335 billion short in projected revenue for 2009-2011 as compared to the May 1, 2007 revenue projection of $6,836bn.

Clear yet?

[dave404]

Sorry, third paragraph should begin "December 2008" not 2009.

[VegasTeaRoom]

Catherine Cortez Masto!

[Michael Green]

Sure would be nice to have back the--how much?--$300 million or so that Kenny Guinn had returned to Nevadans because he was afraid of Bob Beers. But that would have required thoughtful governance, which even seems to be lacking with the departures of some of the dippier legislators.

[Happygirl]

ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha ....
Gibbons has the nerve to proclaim anything?
(Other than he is a piece of shit and fornicating liar, of course ...)

[Scorpiogal]

I thought most people like to be kissed while they're being....oh,wait...he's not gonna f*** ya he's gonna...(you know the rest of the line).

Seems to be a meme in both his personal and professional life.

[Nevada Ned]

While the Federal government is increasing spending to stimulate the economy, many state and local governments are cutting back on spending, thereby canceling out part of the Federal stimulus.

This happened back in the 1930's also.

We need an economist (maybe dave404, who seems to be able to do math) to tell us what fraction of the Federal stimulus in Nevada is being canceled out by Gibbons/Buckley budget cuts.

[....Temujin... Khan..of..the..Yakka..Mongols...]

.
..
...Hey Dave 404.. A couple of years ago I believe the State budger was 3.7 Billion and Clark county was like 5.2 Billion... any updates, dear friend, on those two items..?? Thanx
..
.

[dave404]

T..KotKM;

Define a "few years ago".

General Fund revenue appropriations has never reached $3.7 for any one year...and a total state budget of that size was a loooong time ago.

[dave404]

NevadaNed;

Difficult to say precisely, but published reports peg Recovery funds for Nevada at $1.5bn.

The White House (!) website breaks down Nevada's potential share;
whitehouse

Too, Reid put a ton of money into the Omnibus appropriation bill a couple of months ago [Ensign and Heller earmarked the heck out of the bill but voted against its passage].