LAS VEGAS -- Millions of taxpayer dollars are being wasted and abused by state and local governments. The latest Nevada Piglet Report uncovers the pork most people would never know about even though they pay for it.
The 2010 Nevada Piglet Report will make you squeal -- but not with delight! It's example after example of state and local government waste and abuse to the tune of tens of millions of dollars.
The Nevada Piglet Report
"It's even more outrageous when the economy is struggling like it is here in Nevada," said Tom Schatz, Citizens Against Government Waste.
Consider the Clark County employee who used a government gas card last year to pay for 88 separate transactions within one hour's time for a total of more than $6,000.
"That actually seems like fraud," said Michael Richter, Nevada taxpayer.
"We found hundreds of government employees using gas cards on days when they were not even at work," said Geoffrey Lawrence, Nevada Policy Research Institute.
"It's taking advantage of the government," said Molly Franklin, Nevada Taxpayer
And that means taking advantage of the taxpayer who foots the bill. Including the $110,000 the city of Las Vegas paid a New Jersey consulting firm to come up with a new name for Union Park. The firm flew five people to Las Vegas for a six-week junket and they wound up taking a name the city already had -- Symphony Park.
"Who made the decision to pay that much money for something so idiotic?" questioned Richter.
That is the question the non-profit, non-partisan organizations, who help pay for and put together the Piglet Report, say more taxpayers should really be asking.
"Taxpayers have to hold elected officials more accountable," said Schatz.
That's the same thought this local taxpayer had
"Come time for voting, it's something I'll look into as far as which officials are making some of these insane decisions," said Richter.
See a list of Clark County employee Salaries
Some of the most costly examples of waste and abuse involve the salaries of public employees which on average are more than 28 percent higher than private-sector employees performing similar jobs.
