North Las Vegas may seek assistance from state in face of deficit

North Las Vegas leaders are warming to the prospect of state financial help, calling for “technical assistance” on the city’s fiscal issues at a Wednesday City Council meeting.

City leaders haven’t formally approached state tax officials for help with next year’s projected $18 million deficit but hinted they might be willing to put in a request for expanded state input by the end of the month.

Discussion surrounding the proposal comes a week after officials offered city union heads an ultimatum: Make a deal or brace for layoffs by April 15.

City leaders looked to soften that blow this week, giving City Manager Jeff Buchanan until June to reach out to state officials for help in negotiating a proposed $7.7 million legal settlement presented to city bargaining groups last month.

Council members ratified that offer Wednesday, unanimously approving a deal worth 30 cents on the dollar to union leaders, winners of a two-year, multimillion-dollar legal battle over pay raises and benefits suspended under a city-declared “fiscal emergency” in June 2012.

“I don’t want you guys to think that the state is anything to fear,” Mayor John Lee told Buchanan and other city staffers on Wednesday. “We haven’t asked for technical assistance yet, but I’m almost thinking that we probably should put a resolution together for next meeting, one that puts the world on notice that we’re going to be talking to the state.

“I’m willing to give you more time but I want to know I’ve done everything I can for the residents of North Las Vegas.”

Lee and other leaders didn’t volunteer a definition of what “technical assistance” from the state might look like.

Mayor’s Office Chief of Staff Ryann Juden doesn’t expect it will amount to much more than another pair of eyeballs on the city’s books.

“We’ve been in very close contact with the governor’s office and the state, so moving toward technical financial assistance is just formalizing what we’ve already been doing,” Juden said.

City Attorney Sandra Douglass Morgan added that the state will “defer to the city’s plan” for navigating North Las Vegas’ treacherous financial waters.

State officials haven’t yet formalized that commitment and could not be reached for comment.

City staff has been asked to draft an authorization seeking expanded access to state financial assistance by April 16.

Contact James DeHaven at jdehaven@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3839. Find him on Twitter @JamesDeHaven.