"Carson City -- State spending on education would be cut by 6.9 percent under a budget deal Democrats and Republicans reached late Saturday, a source who had seen the draft budget document said.
The extra revenue would come mostly from the mining and banking industries. Casinos would not have to pay any new taxes or fees, but new licensees would be charged for investigations, according to the document. Because of economic hard times, the gaming industry had strongly objected to paying any more money."
The extra revenue would come mostly from the mining and banking industries. Casinos would not have to pay any new taxes or fees, but new licensees would be charged for investigations, according to the document. Because of economic hard times, the gaming industry had strongly objected to paying any more money."
The deal does not include a last-minute Republican Assembly idea to essentially allow private investors to buy unclaimed property the state collects, the source who saw the document said.
Members of the political party caucuses still must agree to the plan, which is part of an effort to close an $887 million budget gap and which could be approved at the special session as soon as today.
The deal, which could mean layoffs or pay cuts for teachers, was reached after five meetings over three days among legislative leaders and Gov. Jim Gibbons on Day 5 of the special session.
State workers fared better when, earlier in the day, the Assembly rejected more cuts to their pay but increased classroom sizes for Nevada's youngest pupils and closed many state offices on Fridays.
State Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said he thought the Republican governor would sign off on the deal.