WASHOE COUNTY BUDGET HEARINGS TO BE BROADCAST LIVE ON CHANNEL 17 AND AVAILABLE ON VIDEO ON DEMAND
Reno, Nevada March 7, 2008. Washoe County Department budget presentations are scheduled for March 10, 17 and 24 and will be broadcast live on WCTV-17 as well as posted on the County’s video-on demand website by the next day at the latest. To get each Department’s live budget presentation date and time and video on demand schedule, go to www.washoecounty.us and click on the WCTV-17 online link for video on demand and www.washoecounty.us/finance/budget.html for budget information.
Washoe County elected officials and Department heads will present these strategies to the Board of Commissioners about how they will meet the projected $20.7 million deficit in the 2008-09 budget within their individual departments. Recommended reductions range from 2.5% for public safety, 5% for judicial/health/social services, 10% for administrative/executive/legal/operations and 15% for cultural/educational.
The spending reductions are necessary because sales tax revenues, which make up nearly 40% of the County’s general fund, are lower than projected. In fact, County Commissioners recently received a report from County Finance staff that 16 of the last 17 months have sales tax revenues lower than the same period a year ago—the longest sustained decrease in decades.

Related Links:
Budget Overview (http://www.washoecounty.us/finance/budget.html)