State of the City: Mayor Crowell cites gains and challenges - but Carson's people still the best asset

Carson City has much to be proud of - its health care, its recreational opportunities, its cultural arts and its athletics, Mayor Bob Crowell said Friday in his State of the City address.

But it also has a number of challenges, he noted.

Crowell delivered his speech, along with Supervisor and Redevelopment Authority Chairwoman Shelly Aldean and Sheriff Ken Furlong, to a group of more than 100 people at the Gold Dust West. The second annual event was sponsored by the Carson City Chamber of Commerce.

"Our general government services - police, fire, jail, courts, parks, libraries and city administration - are funded primarily by a portion of the sales taxes and property taxes," Crowell said.

"Historically, sales taxes, fueled in large part by automobile sales, have contributed 47 percent or so, with property taxes about 20 percent. With the decline in sales taxes, that relationship is closer to about 30 percent each," he said.

Due to anticipated budget shortfalls expected for 2010, the board embarked on a process whereby department heads and bargaining units came up with 145 prioritized recommendations to cut the general fund by 10 perecent.

"While we did not anticipate having to adopt all those recommendations, we in fact did just that, and we also asked our employees to forego cost-of-living and merit pay raises," he said.

"As a result of those actions, our general fund budget has been reduced by more than 20 percent, with some 100 general fund positions eliminated," Crowell said.

The city has been closely monitoring sales tax receipts since then, he said, and expected them to increase by 3 percent.

"To date, while sales taxes have generally trended positive, the increase has been closer to 1.5 percent. What that means is that we will again have some rather tough budget decisions to make for the next fiscal year," Crowell said.

He added that although unemployment has been on the decline, it still is "unacceptably high," but industrial vacancy rates, on the other hand, have improved slightly.

But it's not all bad news, and Crowell outlined 16 reasons why Carson City residents have reason to be proud to live in the capital city:

• Excellent health care facilities, including a state-of-the-art cancer treatment center.

• The right to claim the mantle as the solar capital of Nevada, with the most installed solar energy per capita.

• A new, extended runway at the airport, with new taxiways, and $21 million in infrastructure improvements realized through grants.

• More than 6,000 acres of open space laced with hiking, jogging and biking trails.

• Ownership of the majority of the riverbanks of the Carson River from Douglas County to Lyon County.

• The V&T Railroad, which carried more than 7,000 passengers for the first Polar Express in Northern Nevada.

• Thirty parks and athletic fields (including a fishing pond, ice skating rink and aquatic center.)

• A new multi-athletic complex ready to go to bid.

• A community center for productions such as the Western Nevada Musical Theater Company's "Phantom of the Opera."

• Designation as a runner-friendly community.

• A Business Resource Innovation Center designed as a one-stop-shop for businesses wanting to expand within or move to Carson City.

• An active arts and cultural community supported by the Brewery Arts Center.

• A college that serves more than 5,000 students.

• Excellent public, private and charter schools.

• A successful public transportation system.

• Being a consolidated city/county, which offers cost efficiencies and other benefits.

"We have a lot to be proud of in our community, but by far the most important asset of our community is its people ... and our volunteer and faith-based organizations that are working every day to make Carson City a better place to live," Crowell said.