Budget Deal Cemented

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and legislative leadership announced a budget deal Wednesday.

The deal fell into place after a state Supreme Court ruling that opened a bigger hole in the budget deficit. The high court ruled in late May that lawmakers overstepped their bounds in 2010 by sweeping $62 million from a local wastewater fund into the state’s general fund.

Until then, the regular legislative session, which ends Monday, appeared headed for deadlock.

The ruling led Sandoval to drop his opposition to extending the sunset dates on some temporary taxes.

 In return, the Legislature’s Democratic majorities went along with some of the governor’s initiatives, including scrapping teacher tenure and reforms to public employee collective bargaining.

“As a result of unprecedented direction by the Supreme Court, we have done this work in five days, often working around the clock,” Sandoval said in a statement.

Total state spending for the 2011-13 biennium will decrease by $500 million over the previous two-year budget, according to the governor.

“Common sense has prevailed in Carson City — we have agreed on a balanced budget that responsibly funds our schools, which was the primary goal of this session,” Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford said in a statement.

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