TRPA laments budget cuts

Gov. Jim Gibbons' proposed cuts in Nevada's share of funding for the Tahoe Regional Planning agency would hurt the bistate agency's ability to carry out its mission of protecting mile-high Lake Tahoe, lawmakers were told Friday.

The proposed budget would slash Nevada's share of funds for the TRPA by 41 percent. Budget-cutting moves to date include the elimination of 11 staff positions, a salary and hiring freeze, work furloughs and closure of a satellite office on Tahoe's north shore for at least the balance of the fiscal year.

Joanne Marchetta, acting executive director of the California-Nevada TRPA, said the cuts would delay projects designed to improve water quality and control runoff of sediment into Lake Tahoe.

"Many of our environmental improvements come through projects," Marchetta said. "And if we can't respond to project applications in a timely way, it affects the ability to get the environmental improvements on the ground."

"With fewer people to try to move projects through the system, it's slower and less responsive," Marchetta said. "And frankly, we've worked hard over the last three to five years to really increase our efficiency, so we don't want to be backsliding."

Typically, Nevada provides a third of the TRPA funding and California provides the rest. The prospect of Nevada contributing less than its usual share has prompted concern that California also could lower its contribution.

"I guess I'm kind of worried, because California budgets on a yearly basis, and in our second year is there a possibility that they might cut their funding based on what we're putting in?" asked Assemblywoman Kathy McClain, D-Las Vegas.

"That's always a possibility, just because of the way the two systems work," said Jerry Wells, TRPA deputy director. But he added that California's contributions to the TRPA come from an environmental license plate fund, a relatively stable revenue stream, rather than the state's general fund which has been in crisis.

"We're hopeful that they will be able to continue their baseline funding next year, but we can't guarantee it," Wells said.

Marchetta was appointed acting director after John Singlaub recently resigned from the post. Marchetta, who served as general counsel for the agency for over three years, said the agency's governing board will decide whether to permanently appoint her within the next month or two.