Budget decision delayed

But for a broken foot, North Las Vegas this week probably would have adopted a roughly $841.4 million budget for fiscal year 2009.

Instead, Tuesday afternoon's budget meeting devolved into a tense standoff between City Council members and had to be adjourned until a do-ever scheduled for next week.

Councilwoman Shari Buck took a misstep on Tuesday, fracturing and tearing ligaments in her foot and forcing her to miss the meeting. Her absence left the remaining four-member council evenly split on whether to approve a city budget that is 18.7 percent higher than last year's.

Mayor Michael Montandon and Councilwoman Stephanie Smith wanted to approve the budget. But Councilmen Robert Eliason and William Robinson steadfastly refused on grounds that the proposed financial plan included funding for 32 new full-time non-public safety positions, which the men said they couldn't justify in today's rocky economic times.

"Gas is $4 a gallon almost," Robinson said. "It is time for the residents of this city to get some relief. Adding employees is not a relief."

City Manager Gregory Rose argued that the city had planned adequately to fund the positions that represent about $2 million.

"We have an 18 percent fund balance," he said. "We are financially very sound. We can afford what is being proposed."

Council members argued over the budget for about half an hour, but never took a vote.

Rose at one point said: "I guess I'm trying to get a good understanding of what it is you're trying to achieve."

A frustrated Montandon at one point declared: "We are not leaving here without a budget."

But that's what they did, electing to adjourn until 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Buck, who said she supports the proposed budget, vowed to be present at the next meeting, broken foot in tow, and serve as tiebreaker if necessary.

"I understand wanting to be careful with public dollars, but we're being very frugal," she said. "We've saved and saved for years. Why would you build a library and not want to fund staffing it, or build new parks and not want to fund having people open it and run it?"

Twelve of the new positions are staffers for a library on Alexander Road near Martin Luther King Boulevard that's expected to be completed in early 2009.

The city was able to maintain an 18 percent fund balance, essentially its "savings account," in part by reallocating some funds and eliminating five positions, Rose said. "If the economy does not turn around next year, then we will need to make some adjustments."

General fund expenditures in the proposed budget add up to about $223.6 million, 54.5 percent of which is slated for public safety.

The city's capital projects fund is budgeted at about $251.6 million and includes money toward a new water reclamation facility and the new SkyView Multi-Generation Center.

The budget should be available on the city's Web site at www.cityofnorthlasvegas.comby the end of June.

Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis @reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285.