Consolidating our governments saves time and money

William Mark Clarke, Las Vegas

Sunday, June 13, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.

I believe the time is right to look to the future on what can be done to have everyone using the same playbook in Southern Nevada.

The days of spending like the revenue stream would never end are over. In these economic times of belt-tightening, due to the lack of tax revenue coming into their coffers, the Clark County government and the municipal governments in Southern Nevada have been reducing their budgets laying off fellow citizens.

I would suggest the Clark County Commission and the Henderson, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas city councils be abolished. In their place, a full-time county council could be formed. Each county council member on this new board would still represent the people like they do now.

There would be one budget for all of Southern Nevada. The newly formed county council and the public employees unions would benefit.

Using the best of each agreements of the past and discarding the worst, a contract could be done to benefit all parties and, most important, the citizens of Southern Nevada. All negotiations would be open for the public to read.

There would be consolidations of departments, saving money, time and duplications of services. One police force, one court system, one fire department. The list goes on.

In short, there would be a complete overhaul of government on a local level that would benefit all the citizens of Southern Nevada. There would be more streamlining. It would be hard — a first, given the “turf wars” of the past — but we all must look to the future.