Monday, June 2, 2008 | 2:05 a.m.
Gov. Jim Gibbons stubbornly insists there be no new taxes, especially on the gaming industry, despite the possibility that additional budget cuts will have to be made in vital state services. Compared with other states and nations, our state has provided a rich haven for generous profit making without a more responsible share in the tax burden paid for the gaming privilege.
The governor insists further cuts must be made in K-12 education. The original 4 percent cost of living increase for all state employees is now in jeopardy of being reduced to 2 percent and perhaps total elimination. Teachers will once again bear more than their share of the burden since they have not had a decent raise in a long time.
What he apparently fails to grasp is that no new taxes also means new teachers will not flow to Nevada. Ranking among states lowest in teacher salaries, benefits and working conditions, Nevada cannot attract teachers if they cannot afford to survive here.
The first order of budget cuts in saving money locally must be to eliminate 40 to 50 percent of all administrative positions. We need more teachers, not more administrators. Ample funds existed to create more administrative positions but never enough to hire more teachers.
When the military faces reductions in force, officers are given the choice of resigning or taking a reduction to enlisted ranks to retain retirement benefits. Administrators should be offered similar choices; either they leave or return to the classroom at the teacher pay and benefit rate.
The writer is a retired Clark County School District teacher.
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