Plug-the-Leaks Days at City Council

Bunch of special sessions with the city council this week as council tries to figure out what happened to the city budget.

You’ll learn (maybe)

• why water fees are being diverted to the general fund
• why “more cops” funds were (are being?) diverted to the general fund
• why self-congratulatory, polyanna assessments of city finances have suddenly become full of doom and gloom
• why we’re building a new city hall
• just what happens when the city cuts back on overtime pay to police and firefighters

Where do I go to find out such exciting things, you ask?

• Tuesday, December 15, 2009, at 5:00 P.M. in the Alexander Library Meeting Room, 1755 West Alexander Road, North Las Vegas, Nevada. (Agenda) There will be general discussion of budget priorities.
• Wednesday, December 16, 2009, at 4:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 2200 Civic Center Drive, North Las Vegas, Nevada. (Agenda) Payment in lieu of taxes (PILT) distributions.
• Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 6:00 p.m., Council Chambers, 2200 Civic Center Drive, North Las Vegas, Nevada. (Agenda) A regular old Nor’Town council meeting with lawyer-lobbyists, etc.

PILT funding, wherein the Feds give states money for federal lands in the state which don’t produce property taxes because, well, the Feds on on ‘em, is always a sore-spot for officials. Nobody, by definition, ever gets their fair share.

But, look! Here’s a bright spot! A local Senator promised increases in PILT funding back in 2003:

“In the future I would like to see legislation enacted that will
permanently provide and greatly increase PILT funding for Nevada,” Sen.
John Ensign, R-Nev., said. (Sun)

Say, I wonder whatever happened to that guy? (SNL,LVG)