Supreme Court gives back

Efforts by Gov. Jim Gibbons to brace government agencies for potential budget reductions have been met with the usual resistance. But at least one public body isn’t complaining.

On Thursday, the Nevada Supreme Court announced it has already returned $2.5 million to the state treasury — or about 24 percent of its $10.5 million appropriation for the current fiscal year.

Chief Justice Bill Maupin also said the court anticipates giving back $1 million during the next fiscal year, about 11 percent of its budget.

That’s far in excess of what the governor requested, which was for state agencies to prepare contingency spending plans 5 percent below anticipated budgets.

Chief Justice Maupin said the court was able to realize the savings through personnel moves and other steps. He also cited a one-time revenue assessment the high court received from Las Vegas Justice Court.

“We are sensitive to the current economic situation and will continue to consider its impact on judicial budgets as we make decisions that are crucial to the functions of the judiciary,” the chief justice noted in a letter to Gov. Gibbons.

That’s a far cry from the response the governor received from university chancellor Jim Rogers, who refused to comply with the request for a contingency budget even though enrollment in the system is actually below projections and any budget “cuts” would still leave agencies more money to spend this year than the one previous.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the justices did quite well last legislative session. Lawmakers approved massive pay hikes for Supreme Court justices, who in 2009 will make at least $170,000 per year instead of $140,000.

That makes it a bit easier for Chief Justice Maupin and his colleagues to weather the budget storm with a smile.