Governor Adds $120M to Budget

Gov. Brian Sandoval delivered some slightly good news Monday to leaven the grim Nevada budget picture, announcing that he’s amending his budget proposal to recognize about $120 million in higher revenue.

That revenue comes from adjustments in the state’s mineral tax and in Medicaid support.

Sandoval, a Republican who took office in January, has insisted that he will oppose any new taxes, or the extensions of temporary taxes that are set to expire, as the state develops a budget in the wake of a recession that has decimated the government’s revenue picture.

“Businesses are already paying the burden of an additional one billion dollars in new unemployment taxes and any additional taxes would have a severe impact on our economy,” the governor said in a statement Monday. “I remain convinced that spending only the money we have is the prudent course for Nevada’s long-term recovery.”

Democrats have majorities in both houses, but don’t command the two-thirds supermajorities needed to enact tax increases. They say they want a budget with more revenue, to limit the effects of the cuts Sandoval proposed.

“My hope is that as we talk about the cuts we have to make, and the reforms we’ve agreed should occur, that we will also talk about the revenues needed to responsibly balance this budget,” Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford said during a budget discussion Monday.

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