Gov. Gibbons: Further budget cuts coming in 2-3 weeks

   Governor Gibbons told news reporters this afternoon that despite the state’s pot of red ink rising to $900 million, he’s still not talking state worker layoffs, for now.  But he is talking further budget cuts, although he says he wants to soften those cuts on K-12 education, public safety and prisons.

Gibbons told reporters that budget discussions with ranking state lawmakers, including top Democrats, are focused on getting through the next year without layoffs or crippling cuts to k-12 schools,  universities, community colleges and public safety.   Gibbons says after further meetings with lawmakers, he’ll announce what those cuts will be and to which state division.

State Budget Director Andrew Clinger told News Carson City that there might be an additional 3% cut to selective departments, including Health and Human Services but that has not been finalized.  He said the bulk of the cuts will hopefully come from major state construction projects that have not yet been started, like improvements to four state prisons and the so-called state University Health Sciences program.  No major highway projects, however, would be affected.   Clinger said if they can find another $52 million for next year’s budget, then there won’t be any layoffs.  But if economic conditions force it, then those layoffs would start with Health and Human Services.  He added that they’re hoping that $4-6 billion in mega-resort construction projects on the ‘Vegas Strip will boost Clark County’s tax contribution to the state budget to help turn things around.

Again, talks resume between Gibbons and lawmakers with a final set of cuts and projections within two to three weeks.