Clark County hails state Supreme Court ruling

A recent high court decision prompted state leaders to back off on grabbing about $35 million in county property tax money this year.

The justices ruled against the Legislature taking $62 million from the Clean Water Coalition, arguing that it was unconstitutional for the state to single out local entities for a money grab.

Having more money in the pot won’t prevent 82 layoffs that were planned months ago, but it will help save jobs in the future, county officials said Thursday.

“It certainly will provide some relief to the cuts in expenditures we have to make going into the next year,” County Manager Don Burnette said. “It allows us to push back the prospect of layoffs.”

Representatives of the county’s largest union couldn’t be reached for comment.

Commissioner Susan Brager described the situation as a mixed blessing.

“I’m grateful … that it’s not as bad as it was,” Brager said. “But it’s still not good.”

Finance officials had estimated that the county could lose as much as $125 million a year if the Legislature complied with the governor’s original budget plan. The losses would result mainly from the state swiping revenue while shifting responsibility for more programs to the county.

But lawmakers scrapped many proposals to increase the county’s burden for funding programs.

The county will pick up program costs that will total about $14 million this year and $16 million next year.

This year, the county’s added costs will include the following:

■ $4 million to aid elderly, disabled and impoverished residents.

■ $3 million to fund services for mentally impaired children.

■ $2 million for youth parole services.

■ $2.5 million for researching the backgrounds of people about to be sentenced for crimes.

■ $230,000 more for the forestry station in Mount Charleston.

The state also will clean out indigent accident and medical funds, totaling $10 million to $12 million per year.

On the plus side, the state won’t take $22.5 million in property tax revenue from the general operating fund, nor will it divert $12 million in capital funds.

Burnette estimated that the general fund will gain a net total of $8 million. That will offset the $50 million the county had to pull from a reserve to balance the budget, reducing the deficit to
$42 million going into next year, he said.

Commissioner Mary Beth Scow said the county was spared a devastating blow. But the situation is still dire, requiring unions to work with managers to further trim costs, she said.

“It’s still having huge impacts on staffing,” Scow said. “This is still causing a loss of services.”

Contact reporter Scott Wyland at swyland@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.