Monday, June 23, 2003 | 11:23 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- To break a legislative deadlock over tax increases, Assembly Republicans want to scale back the state budget by trimming the university system and health and welfare programs.
Assemblyman Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, said the plan may include eliminating the dental school at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Nevada State College at Henderson.
Beers said the state could save $10 million a year by cutting the dental school and about $3 million a year by cutting the state college.
The Republican caucus is also targeting budget increases that passed earlier this year to manage the welfare caseload.
The state Legislature has been stalled over a tax increase of $869 million. The Legislature will come back into special session on Wednesday to reconsider the tax package and the state K-12 school budget. The Legislature has passed a budget for everything but K-12 schools.
The Republicans want to reopen the entire state budget to trim, rather than pass the tax package.
Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, said his Republicans will not vote for an $869 million tax increase. And he says he has 15 or 16 GOP votes to block any tax increase of that figure. He said the state budget must be reduced before the Assembly will be able to muster the necessary two-thirds support.
The Republican plan is to reopen the state budget, although Gov. Kenny Guinn, who decides what will be discussed in a special session, has said he would not do that.
Hettrick said his caucus' plan wouldn't include any reductions in the aid to the public schools budget.
Hettrick is still working to find "enhancements" or increases in the $3.9 billion state budget that can be cut. Hettrick did not go into detail, but Beers said one area is the dental school at UNLV that he called a "colossal waste of money."
He said since a law regarding accepting dentists from other states has been passed, 85 dentists from other states have come to Nevada. He said the first class to graduate from the dental school will have 75 members.
"We don't need it," Beers said, referring to the dental school.
He said there may be some reductions in the money for enrollment at the University and Community College System. A formula used to project growth fixed it at 6.9 percent next year and 7 percent the following year. Beers said the increase may be a realistic 2 to 3 percent.
The State College in Henderson, Beers said, may also be targeted. And he said the $5 million given to the University of Nevada, Reno to help buy the adjacent Manogue High School may be reduced or stripped.
The Legislature authorized more than 120 new welfare workers. Beers said that should be reduced. And he said there should probably be reductions in other new state hirings.
Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, said today he opposed the cuts. He asked why these budget reductions were not made during the 120 day regular session. "We cut $140 million and those suggestions came from others, not those who are suggesting the ones now, " he said.
He said he wants the lawmakers to "stand up and be counted," showing they are willing to raise taxes to support education.
The state college has been on uneven footing ever since it was funded in the 2001-2003 Legislature and the latest attempt to target the institution will cause even more upheaval among students, faculty and parents, said Kerry Romesburg president of the Nevada State College at Henderson.
Romesburg said while he understands the state college is being given a second look because of its lower than expected enrollment, he believes the idea to do away with it will cost the state more money in the long run because of the college's lower tuition rates.
"I believe it's a short-sighted recommendation," Romesburg said. "It saves money in the short run and would cost millions of dollars in the long run."
Greg Bortolin, press secretary to Gov. Kenny Guinn, said today the governor "is not going to react to anything until he sees a tax package. He is not going to reopen the budget."
He said the GOP Assemblymen are now talking about cutting the budget. "Why didn't they do that during the 120 day regular session?" he asked.
"The governor sets the agenda for the session and the issue will be taxes," Bortolin said. He suggested that some of the figures being put together by Republicans "are not to be trusted." He said the GOP has already inflated the number of new state workers to be hired.
Assemblyman David Parks, D-Las Vegas, co-chairman of a special committee that considered the tax plan in the special sessions, said he has been exchanging e-mails on various tax items. "I'm hopeful we can reach quick resolution but I don't have anything to base my expectations on."
Sun reporter
Jennifer Knight contributed to this story.
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