Senate approves three of five budget bills as deadline nears

CARSON CITY --The Senate on a 15-6 vote Saturday approved the first three of five budget bills needed to fund state government over the next two years.

The Assembly on Saturday night is expected to approve the $2.2 billion public school funding plan, and a bill to extend $620 million in taxes for the next two years that otherwise would expire..

Swift passage is expected since the bills already have received the approval of Gov. Brian Sandoval and legislative leaders. On Sunday, the bills approved in the Senate should be moved to the Assembly floor for approval. Likewise, the bill passed by the Assembly will go to the Senate for final action..

In the Saturday votes, the Senate approved a bill authorizing state agencies to spend $11 billion in federal funds, fees and gifts, one that cuts state employee salaries by 2.5 percent and forces them to take six unpaid furlough days a year, and one that appropriates $60 million to construct and repair state buildings.

All 11 Senate Democrats and Republicans Joe Hardy, R-Boulder City, Ben Kieckhefer, R-Reno, Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora; and Mike McGinness, R-Fallon, voted for the bills. Six Republicans voted in opposition: Barbara Cegavske, Elizabeth Halseth and Michael Roberson, all R-Las Vegas; Greg Brower, R-Reno; Don Gustavson, R-Sparks; and James Settelmeyer, R-Minden.

By law, a vote on the final budget bill, the general appropriations bill -- which provides $6.2 billion in state tax revenue to fund state government -- cannot receive a vote until Sunday, 24 hours after it was introduced Saturday in the Assembly.

The Legislature must adjourn its 120-day session by 1 a.m. Tuesday.