Tax revenue worries

State government financial woes worsened Thursday, when the Department of Taxation released reports showing tax revenue falling further behind projections.

Revenues from four major taxes -- sales, business payroll, insurance and real property -- were below expected levels for July through September, the department announced.

As a result, Gov. Jim Gibbons might have to cut more than the anticipated $285 million from the state's $6.8 billion, two-year budget when he hacks state spending in January.

"It is certainly going to make the hole bigger," state Budget Director Andrew Clinger said.

Gibbons has refused to identify where he might cut.

Clinger denied that Gibbons has asked state agency directors to ask employees to voluntarily take two weeks off without pay to avoid layoffs.

That option, however, might be gaining favor with department directors, he said.

"The departments are looking at anything they can to make the cuts," Clinger said.

The budget was built on projections made in May by the Economic Forum, a group of private business leaders who foresaw tax revenue growing at an overall rate of 5 percent during the current fiscal year.

MONDAY

$9.5 billion school construction plan

Clark County School District staff unveiled a school construction proposal that, if approved by voters in November 2008, would be the largest in state history in dollars generated.

The $9.5 billion, 10-year plan is to build 73 new schools. The district is still building schools under a 10-year bond measure passed in 1998 for $3.5 billion.

Superintendent Walt Rulffes said the proposal would be an extension of the 1998 bond measure, so it would not increase the portion of the property tax rate that goes to schools.

TUESDAY

More than 600,000

living in Las Vegas

Though Las Vegas didn't grow as fast over the past year as it did in previous years, the city still managed to push past the 600,000 mark, according to a city estimate.

City staff members estimated 602,697 people were living in Las Vegas on July 1, an increase of 1.9 percent -- about 11,100 people -- over the city's estimated population for the same day in 2006.

The milestone was expected. The city's fiscal 2008 budget projected a population of 603,000.

"It puts us in the company of other large cities in the country that we work with and learn from," said Margo Wheeler, the city's director of planning and development.

WEDNESDAY

O.J. Simpson

pleads not guilty

O.J. Simpson and his two co-defendants pleaded not guilty to the 12 charges each faces related to a Sept. 13 incident in a Palace Station hotel room.

Prosecutors believe the trio, which included Charles Ehrlich and Clarence Stewart, took part in the armed robbery of two memorabilia dealers so Simpson could reclaim property he thought had been stolen from him.

Simpson was reserved throughout the hearing in the courtroom of District Judge Jackie Glass and answered questions with, "Yes, your honor."

THURSDAY

Prosecutor to run for Porter's seat

Robert Daskas launched his congressional campaign at the Henderson high school he attended.

The Clark County prosecutor is a Democratic candidate for Congressional District 3, held by Republican Jon Porter.

The district, almost evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, is expected to be one of the most competitive in the nation next year, with both political parties throwing money at it.

FRIDAY

Evel Knievel dead at age 69

Like the dusty desert town that grew into a gambling mecca, iconic daredevil Evel Knievel, who died at the age of 69, defied the odds and found overwhelming success doing it his way, his son said.

"He loved Las Vegas. It was part of his spirit. Risk taking and big things," Kelly Knievel said from his Las Vegas home.

The legendary stuntman will be forever linked to Las Vegas by his jump over the Caesars Palace fountains on Dec. 31, 1967. The jump launched him 150 feet through the air, but he couldn't stick the landing and was tossed onto the pavement.

The impact shattered his pelvis, broke his hip and fractured his right femur, and he spent a month in a coma at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital, now called University Medical Center.

COMPILED BY MICHAEL SQUIRES

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