County budget on track, holds ‘no big surprises’

Clark County’s budget analyst told commissioners Wednesday that revenues and expenses are on track with projections.

“With no big surprises, we should be OK,” Adriana Prata said during a financial update.

She said that from January 2009 to May of this year, revenues for the county’s general fund have totaled $274.8 million and expenses have been $273.1 million. That leaves open the possibility that the county could finish the two-year budget cycle by meeting its goal of adding $1.7 million to the fund balance.

She described the general fund as in a “stable but fragile” condition.

Between January ’09 and February ’10, Clark County cut its general fund budget three times for a total of 22 percent, or $62 million, since its peak in the 2007-2008 budget. The cuts eliminated 270 positions (about half of which were filled), or about 15 percent of the county work force. Work hours and pay have been reduced for nearly 200 employees.

In April, budget director Jim Dickman told commissioners that forecasting virtually flat revenues paid off as the county saw its financial situation improve for the first time in two years.

As work has begun on the 2011-2012 budget, however, there are still cuts to be made.

John Wiesman, director of the Department of Public Health, has told commissioners he’s $4 million short and he will be meeting with commissioners later to try and identify cuts.

Prata said sales tax revenue has been $200,000 higher than projected, and property tax revenue $300,000 higher than projected.