Site search
sponsored by
News
While the cities and school districts in Reno and Las Vegas are laying off several employees due to the struggling economy, Churchill County and Fallon are trying to retain its workers to maintain the same level of service residents expect and want.
Churchill County Comptroller Alan Kalt said the county has been gapping positions to see if it can operate effectively without filling a job when employees resign or retire.
“We have several positions that are unfilled,” Kalt said. “We have not had to lay anyone off. We had to do it with attrition.”
He said attrition has been the county's practice for the last three years so cuts this year were kept to a minimum. The comptroller said Churchill County has something most communities do not have.
“We see strength in the geothermal industry,” he said.
He stressed that if sales tax numbers decline, the county will have to consider additional cuts, but he said eliminating personnel is the very last resort.
“The county is in a strong financial situation, and we remain cautiously optimistic in the growth of the geothermal industry,” he said.
The Churchill Country School District is not in the same financial situation the county is in and has started laying off workers to balance its $34 million budget.
Superintendent Carolyn Ross said the cuts the district made this past year were challenging. The school board initially sent out 25 reduction in force letters to licensed personnel but through additional cuts, such as implementing a pay to play sports for secondary students and reconfiguring Northside Early Childhood Center to a four-day workweek, were able to reduce the number to less than 10 employees.
She said not knowing the funding school districts were going to receive from the state was problematic. She mentioned the reductions in force are the first ones implemented in nine years.
Ross stressed that if funds become available, the teachers still on the chopping block would be recalled.
Fallon City Clerk Gary Cordes said each and every employee the city has in its budget supports payment, are affordable and necessary.
“We need every employee we have,” he said.
He said the cities of Reno and Fallon cannot be compared, and as an example pointed to the Washoe County firefighters' disagreement with the budget and possible reductions in force.
“How can you fire a volunteer fire department?” Cordes asked in explaining the Fallon-Churchill Volunteer Fire Department is not paid like Reno firefighters.
Cordes said it also helps the budget that the city's elected officials value employees over programs. He said the question agencies should ask themselves is what levels and quality of service do they want for residents while keeping the cost in mind.
Churchill County Comptroller Alan Kalt said the county has been gapping positions to see if it can operate effectively without filling a job when employees resign or retire.
“We have several positions that are unfilled,” Kalt said. “We have not had to lay anyone off. We had to do it with attrition.”
He said attrition has been the county's practice for the last three years so cuts this year were kept to a minimum. The comptroller said Churchill County has something most communities do not have.
“We see strength in the geothermal industry,” he said.
He stressed that if sales tax numbers decline, the county will have to consider additional cuts, but he said eliminating personnel is the very last resort.
“The county is in a strong financial situation, and we remain cautiously optimistic in the growth of the geothermal industry,” he said.
The Churchill Country School District is not in the same financial situation the county is in and has started laying off workers to balance its $34 million budget.
Superintendent Carolyn Ross said the cuts the district made this past year were challenging. The school board initially sent out 25 reduction in force letters to licensed personnel but through additional cuts, such as implementing a pay to play sports for secondary students and reconfiguring Northside Early Childhood Center to a four-day workweek, were able to reduce the number to less than 10 employees.
She said not knowing the funding school districts were going to receive from the state was problematic. She mentioned the reductions in force are the first ones implemented in nine years.
Ross stressed that if funds become available, the teachers still on the chopping block would be recalled.
Fallon City Clerk Gary Cordes said each and every employee the city has in its budget supports payment, are affordable and necessary.
“We need every employee we have,” he said.
He said the cities of Reno and Fallon cannot be compared, and as an example pointed to the Washoe County firefighters' disagreement with the budget and possible reductions in force.
“How can you fire a volunteer fire department?” Cordes asked in explaining the Fallon-Churchill Volunteer Fire Department is not paid like Reno firefighters.
Cordes said it also helps the budget that the city's elected officials value employees over programs. He said the question agencies should ask themselves is what levels and quality of service do they want for residents while keeping the cost in mind.
