Washoe County to cut spending

RENO -- Washoe County officials said they expect to cut spending in the 2010-11 budget.

They also said it could take more than a decade for county property taxes to return to pre-recession levels because of state property tax limits.

Assistant County Manager David Childs said that with home values cut in half, property taxes are expected to drop significantly starting in July.

There have already been severe cuts to the current year's budget. Childs said he hopes those cuts will minimize the need for Draconian reductions in 2010-11.

For 2009-10, property taxes are nearly 48 percent of revenues and budgeted at $205.7 million. That's up from $196.6 million in the last fiscal year.