Nevada lawmakers announce public budget hearings

Legislative leadership in both parties have announced a series of public hearings to get ideas on how Nevada can address the growing budget shortfall.

The Economic Forum a week ago reduced revenue projections by $580.4 million this budget cycle. Adding in the shortfall in K-12 education revenues and such areas as Medicaid expenses brings the total shortfall to just under $900 million.

Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, Minority Leader Bill Raggio, Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley and Minority Leader Heidi Gansert issued a joint release announcing hearings beginning Feb. 3 before the Interim Finance Committee. That session will continue Feb. 4 in Carson City with reviews of proposals dealing with K-12 and higher education budgets.

IFC will move to Las Vegas Feb. 9 and 10 to review budgets of the Department of Health and Human Services and other major budgets of the state.

Public comment will be taken at all those hearings following each budget presentation, which will all be video-conferenced to Carson City and Las Vegas as well as broadcast on the Internet.

Finally, lawmakers have scheduled town hall meetings in Reno and Las Vegas Feb. 13. The Reno town hall will be held at Reno City Hall at 9 a.m., broadcast on Sierra Nevada Community Access Television.

In addition, Gob. Jim Gibbons has scheduled a state of the state address Feb. 8 that will be broadcast statewide on television.