Republicans unveil no-new-taxes Nevada budget plan

By Cy Ryan

Monday, March 30, 2015 | 3:41 p.m.

CARSON CITY — A proposed no-new-taxes state budget plan was outlined today by a group of Republicans who called it a “living-within-our-means proposal.”

The plan calls for spending $6.9 billion, compared to $7.3 billion in spending proposed by Gov. Brian Sandoval.

“Our proposal is not the final word but instead a constructive plan that is conciliatory and fully respectful of the roles of the governor and the Legislature,” state Controller Ron Knecht said.

There are at least three other budget proposals being considered by the Legislature, and Republicans said the plan could change.

Assemblyman Jim Wheeler, R-Minden, and Knecht said the plan would allow sunset taxes to expire, and it cuts $290 million for education programs proposed by Sandoval. The GOP plan would set up a block grant fund of $50 million to allocate to local school districts, which would decide how to spend the money.

Wheeler said the GOP measure would also restore funding to community colleges in Northern Nevada that suffered deep budget cuts in 2013.

While letting the sunset taxes expire, mining companies would have to pay their net proceeds tax in advance, which helps shore up the plan. It would also end six-day unpaid furloughs required of state workers.

The plan would include funding to develop a medical school at UNLV.

Knecht said the plan leaves a $43.3 million shortfall in revenue to achieve a balanced budget for the next two years and ways are being examined to cover the shortage.