Trims to continue
Cuts made to the current Henderson budget were carried over to the next one on Tuesday night, as City Council members signed off on a $547.9 million spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1.
The budget for the coming year includes $222.8 million to cover the city's operating costs, including salaries. That's $15.1 million less than the general fund approved last May and $2.2 million less than the general fund approved in May 2007.
The amount budgeted for the current year was $617.1 million. Then came the deepening recession and a drop in tax revenue that left the city with a $53 million shortfall.
The cuts approved in recent months -- and to be continued in the coming year -- include reductions in the base budgets of all city departments and the elimination of 76 positions in the mostly growth-funded development services and utility services departments.
The city also trimmed several dozen positions through a voluntary buyout program and a voluntary furlough program under which some city employees can take unpaid days off.
Budget Manager Jill Lynch said the new budget includes some wage increases that reflect "current commitments to the various bargaining units," but no cost-of-living raises will be granted to nonunion employees or those represented by the two police unions.
One thing the new budget does not include is an increase in the city's property tax rate, which will remain unchanged for the 20th consecutive year.
Lynch noted that the budget does not reflect possible legislative action that could reduce revenue or require Henderson to absorb any services currently provided by the state.
The council approved the new spending plan unanimously with no discussion.
CALHOUN NAMED CITY MANAGER
With a unanimous vote and a round of applause the Henderson City Council on Tuesday night named Mark Calhoun as city manager.
He replaces former manager Mary Kay Peck, who was fired last month and is now suing the city and the council for breach of contract.
Calhoun was offered a three-year deal that will pay him a base salary of $225,000 a year.
Peck drew the same pay during her 18 months on the job.
Calhoun earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Michigan in 1971. Henderson hired him as city engineer in 1983.
He served as the city’s public works director from 1988 until 2001, when he was named assistant city manager in charge of Henderson’s fire, police, public works and utility services departments.
During Calhoun’s time with the city, Henderson’s population has grown from less than 31,000 to more than 265,000, second only to Las Vegas among Nevada cities.
After the vote, Calhoun thanked council members for their confidence in him and expressed his respect for his fellow city employees.
He had been serving as interim city manager since Peck’s dismissal April 14.
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