City remains cautiously optimistic about budget

Carson City is taking a positive approach - for now - to Gov. Brian Sandoval's Monday announcement that his plan "shifts the funding source for several programs or services from the general fund to county reimbursements."

"I was favorably impressed with the (State of the State) speech," said City Manager Larry Werner. "I liked the tenor of it, that we've all got to work together on this."

The governor's proposed budget says that many services will continue to be provided by the state, but with county funding. The services on that list are Elder Protective Services; Assistance to the Aged, Blind and Disabled; the Medicaid Waiver; Mental Health Court; inspection and licensing of food providers; Emergency Medical Services licensing and training; child developmental services; child protective services for rural counties and youth parole.

"We knew there would be some level of involvement at the county level, and that there was no way to solve the state budget problems without it affecting us," Werner said.

"I'm not necessarily saying we can readily absorb something, but all in all, we're going to try to work with it," he said.

Werner said there is still not enough specific information available for the city to raise any alarms.

"I haven't heard any real screams of anguish," he said, laughing.

"Juvenile probation will be affected, but what is the proportion of county versus state? Consumer health protection and presentencing were mentioned, but some may not be really big hits," Werner said.

"We'll find out more, and then we'll take a look at, 'If we had to do this, what would it cost us?' Some things we might be able to absorb incrementally, but at this stage, we have to know what portion of the programs we're talking about," he said.

Werner said the city will be watching two things:

• The budget as it's presented to the Legislature this week and next week.

• What happens in committee meetings as the budget proposals are hashed out.

Until something appears menacing, however, Werner said he intends to stay cautiously optimistic.

"We're all Nevadans, and we need to see what we can do to make this work. If it doesn't, then we'll go to the board of supervisors for direction," he said.