We are one state

Southern vs. Northern Nevada issues have resurfaced recently, with some arguing that state funds should be allocated based solely on population.

Proponents argue that, because two-thirds of the state's population resides in Clark County, two-thirds of state revenue should be expended there. While there may be circumstances where this would be appropriate, higher education is not one of them. Our universities, while important for their local economies, are statewide institutions serving and benefiting all of Nevada.

Tax revenue expenditures on the national level are not allocated proportionately. Some of our states are net beneficiaries of national tax dollars. Our nation as a whole, however, benefits when we invest tax dollars with the national interest in mind, even though the allocations are not always proportional.

The same is true with our state.

Together we can and will work our way out of this recession. When the south fights the north and the urban fights the rural, the entire state suffers. This is especially true when it comes to education.

The Nevada System of Higher Education includes our two research universities - the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the University of Nevada, Reno - the world-renowned Desert Research Institute, Nevada State College and our four community colleges. Our universities and colleges serve Nevadans in all four corners of our state. Approximately 25 percent of the students attending UNR are from Clark County and around 10 percent of the students attending UNLV are from Washoe County. These statistics do not include our law, dental and medical schools, each of which attracts students from around the state.

Our community colleges directly serve local residents, businesses and employees alike. While there are sound arguments for including local funding to support these institutions, our Legislature has not chosen to follow this path, and our cash-strapped local governments are in no position to do so right now.

Instead, our Legislature funds these region-specific institutions out of state general tax revenues.

It has been determined that the entire state benefits when post-secondary education is available to all Nevadans, and we know that to be true. A more highly educated population earns more, pays more in taxes, has better health outcomes and is more engaged in our civic and democratic processes. Nevada State College's mission is regional, yet the entire state benefits as Nevadans, regardless of where they reside, are trained as schoolteachers and nurses.

In the past, Nevadans have been able to find well-paying jobs with little or no post-secondary education. This was driven by the gaming and construction industries, which did not require significant post-secondary education degrees or certificates. Although Nevada will continue to have a vibrant gaming/tourism sector, national and international competition prevents a return to the hyper-expansion in these sectors we've enjoyed in the past. Nevada's resurgence will depend on new business creation and existing business expansion. The businesses of tomorrow will require an ever more educated and sophisticated workforce.

The evolution of the manufacturing sector in our country is illustrative. Due to the complexity of the machinery used in modern manufacturing processes, each worker must be highly trained and educated. As counterintuitive as it seems, jobs across the country remain unfilled due to the shortage of skilled labor. This is where post-secondary education plays an ever more important role. It is into this void that our community colleges, our state college and our universities must step.

Our community colleges are uniquely suited to provide the type of training required for tomorrow's specialized workforce. Our state college, UNLV and UNR, along with DRI, can provide the specialized programs that produce the engineers, scientists and other talent required for new job development. Also, the research functions at these four institutions can be the magnet for new technologies and start-ups.

As a state we must focus on these challenges and opportunities in order to drive our state entirely forward. To squabble over an ever-shrinking pie will lead our state nowhere but downward.

The governor, the chancellor and the university regents are addressing this challenge head-on. The governor has agreed to extend the sunsetting taxes in order to spare education from further cuts. The chancellor has proposed a new funding formula that shifts emphasis from enrollment to course completion, which allows each institution to retain fees and tuition generated on the respective campuses, rather than sending the same to Carson City for legislative distribution. The regents have supported the new funding formula and now require each institution to meet completion criteria.

The institutions, for their part, have made the difficult and painful decision to cut non-critical and duplicative programs. The Nevada System of Higher Education is working to ensure that programs at each of our institutions complement rather than duplicate each other.

All Nevadans, whether they have been in the state for one month or five generations, must work together.

A house divided cannot stand for long.

Rick Trachok is a member of the Board of Regents and represents District 10 in Washoe County.