Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood
As expected, most state agencies submitted plans for 8 percent spending reductions by Gov. Jim Gibbons’ Wednesday deadline. And as expected, Chancellor Jim Rogers refused to comply with the governor’s request.
Mr. Rogers, the head of Nevada’s public higher education system, is adamant that the state’s colleges and universities need every last dime allocated by the 2007 Legislature. This summer, lawmakers grew the system’s budget by more than 10 percent despite flat enrollment, meaning higher education spending would still be up over the next two years even if Gov. Gibbons follows through on his proposed budget trims.
Mr. Rogers dismisses such facts, asserting any cuts to the higher education system will cause “devastation.”
“I can’t cut, and I’m going to try to talk the governor into understanding that we can’t cut and he must take it from somewhere else,” Mr. Rogers told The Associated Press. “We’re not going in and saying we’re willing to do these things.”
Nevada’s stagnant economy has produced precious little revenue growth this fiscal year. The treasury simply won’t have enough money to cover what’s been promised to various agencies through summer 2009, so Gov. Gibbons is abiding by his constitutional obligation to balance the state budget.
The continued insubordination from Mr. Rogers is especially galling considering his business acumen. He owns a number of television stations, including the NBC affiliate in the lucrative Las Vegas market.
We can’t help but wonder how Mr. Rogers would respond if, during a challenging economic climate, one of his executives defiantly declined to revise his spending plan. Mr. Rogers, well-known for his low tolerance for nonsense — and anyone who challenges his will — would fire such a hypothetical executive on the spot.
Mr. Rogers has only recently suggested reducing so-called “cost-of-living” pay raises for all state employees to help cover the state’s revenue shortfall. The bulk of the university system’s funding increases are dedicated to pay raises for staff and faculty, expenditures administrators maintain are mandated by contract.
It’s the most constructive proposition the chancellor has made in months. He continues to call for the emptying of the state’s rainy day fund and a special legislative session to raise taxes, two political nonstarters.
Mr. Rogers won’t get his way here. He’d be wise to start acting like a chief executive instead of a spoiled bureaucrat.