Gibbons’ top staffer: Fee increases badly needed

Robin Reedy, chief of staff to Gov. Jim Gibbons, said Tuesday that if the state general fund is to be balanced without a tax increase Nevadans will need to pay more in fees at the Department of Motor Vehicles and other state agencies.

Reedy talked about the budget during an appearance on the statewide television show Nevada Newsmakers. (Watch the show here)

"What (Nevadans) pay in fees does not compensate what (the state) pays in salaries and the cost of doing business," Reedy said during the interview. She later added, "In some cases we get $1 or $3 for something that should be $100."

Reedy cited the DMV, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Wildlife during the interview and indicated that fee increases and consolidation are in the works as Gibbons' administration works with the administration of Gov.-elect Brian Sandoval.

Reedy also said the university system should raise more money through tuition and fees instead of depending on the state general fund to make ends meet.

Sandoval has until Jan. 24 to deliver his plan to balance a budget for 2011-13 that includes a general fund that, currently, has projected expenses that are nearly $3 billion more than estimated revenue.

"I believe this budget will probably be balanced without the addition of taxes," she said.