Governor Outlines Budget Cuts in State of the State

Saying that Nevada government "can not afford to be all things to all people," Governor Jim Gibbons proposed a slew of spending reductions to address the state's $881 million budget shortfall during his State of the State Address on Monday night.  During the 25-minute speech from Carson City, the governor criticized legislators for raising taxes and spending over his vetoes last year, accusing the Democrat-controlled Legislature of disregarding his solutions to the budget crisis.  Gibbons said that across-the-board salary cuts for state workers are an option but only as a "last resort."  He did add that some state layoffs are "invevitable."  The governor reiterated his call for closing the Nevada State Prison in Carson City and moving the inmates to other facilities.  On education, he said it's time to stop "whining" about all Nevada's education problems stemming from a lack of funding, and instead begin to embrace innovative solutions to change the state's educational structure.  Gibbons urged the state Legislature to give his recently-released education reform plan a "fair hearing."  The governor has called a special session of the Legislature for February 23rd to deal with the budget shortfall.  To read the governor's entire address, click here.