Legislative Democrats are questioning Governor Joe Lombardo’s unbalanced budget proposal ahead of the start of the 120-day session in Nevada. The proposed budget was found to have a structural deficit of $335 million, with proposed amendments still leaving an $85 million deficit over the budget’s life. The governor’s office plans to submit proposed changes and amendments by January 29 to rectify the situation. The concerns raised by lawmakers are related to funding for teacher pay raises and pre-K education, which were one-time expenditures in the previous legislative session that have now been incorporated into ongoing expenses in the new budget. Lombardo’s proposed legislative priorities include bills on housing, healthcare access, education, public safety, and economic development, which could cost over $500 million. Democrats on the panel expressed concerns about the lack of detail on funding sources for the proposed bills, with Senator Dina Neal questioning the economic development bill’s cost and impact. The staff from the governor’s office took responsibility for the errors in the budget proposal and are working to correct the deficit. The budget meeting highlighted the need for more transparency and clarity in the budgeting process, with lawmakers seeking more information on the funding specifics of the proposed bills. Governor Lombardo emphasized fiscal discipline in his State of the State address, but Democratic lawmakers remain skeptical about the budget’s sustainability and impact on social services.
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Nevada Democrats criticize the inadequacies in Lombardo’s budget proposal
