Letter: Nevada, Reno gets too much funding

Reno has not faced the massive growth that Las Vegas has, but the state funding doesn't reflect that expansion. If Gov. Kenny Guinn cannot make some changes in these unfair funding formulas, then Vegas is headed for trouble.

Running on a platform of getting tough on criminals is curious when our governor has little to do with prisons aside from making their budget. Our prison budget is expanding so perhaps we need to focus on creating less expensive boot camps, reverting to private prisons or removing state criminal statutes to fund K-12 and higher education.

Didn't former Rep. John Ensign suggest that we put our prisoners to work? Since I wouldn't want them working in our casinos perhaps we should fund UNLV so that bright young graduates can bring to Vegas industries that prisoners could participate in.

Unless Guinn wants to pull a Ronald Reagan by spending without regard to revenue, he needs to find a way to reduce Nevada's prisoners, downsize other governmental programs or cut funding for education. This is not an enviable task but one that is inherently important to Nevada's future.

Aaron Clemens, UNLV student senator

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