KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasNevada Faces Budget Shortfall
The leaked memo shows a plan by Governor Jim Gibbon's office.Nevada could be facing another budget shortfall which means state leaders are facing tough decisions about what services and programs to cut.
For 42 very productive years, Bonnie Bairrington has run the family-owned B&M Transmission, a downtown auto shop.
But Bairrington's business is suffering like many others around the state. A sluggish economy, lead by a slump in housing sales, is now seeping over into many high-priced industries.
Car lots are full of everything but customers. Across the street at Hernandez Furniture, there are few sales. Shoppers are keeping their wallets closed and the impact is enormous.
A leaked memo shows a plan by Governor Jim Gibbon's office to cut state budgets and reduce services by five to six-percent. It also includes a hiring freeze that would start immediately. The governor's office had no comment today. But Budget Director Andrew Clinger tells Eyewitness News the snowball effect on sales still has to do with the nation-wide housing crisis.
"Obviously when people are buying new homes, they're buying new furniture, they're buying new appliances. And so I think that one is related," said Clinger.
At Bairrington's shop, the hard work continues however with fewer employees manning the engines.
"We used to run 12, 14 people. Employed that many. We don't have that now because we don't have the business." And while Bairrington's place perseveres, the long view of business wisdom tells her things will turn around, eventually.
Governor Gibbons will hear from his cabinet at the end of the month. They will then decide on which cuts should be made and where.
