Gibbons says amending Nuclear Projects budget up to lawmakers

Faced with auditors' recommendations that his proposed Nuclear Projects budget be increased, Gov. Jim Gibbons said Wednesday the decision is up to the Legislature.

Executive branch auditors issued a report  recommending Gibbons' decision to cut the Agency for Nuclear Projects from seven to two positions be revised to four full-time and one part-time positions.

Asked whether he would support that and submit an amended budget, Gibbons said: "It's not my budget anymore. It's the Legislature's budget."

Gibbons didn't answer when asked whether he would support the recommendation.

"I submitted our budget at $10 million," he said. "Now it's up to the Legislature to determine what changes they want to make to the budget and where they're going to find the money to do that."

The auditors recommended adding back three of the cut positions and signing a part-time contract with one other longtime employee who is retiring to ensure that Nuclear Projects can do its job as the Yucca Mountain project moves into the licensing process this year.

Gibbons made clear he is maintaining the position he articulated in a March 16 letter to Assemblyman Morse Arberry, D-Las Vegas, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

He said in that letter: "The Nevada Constitution requires that I propose a balanced budget to the Legislature before the commencement of the regular session, which I did in January of 2009. Once that budget is proposed, it is up to the Legislature to decide whether to accept or modify that budget."

Chief of Staff Josh Hicks said that doesn't mean the governor's office is abdicating its role in building the budget. He said the office will soon present its recommendations on the federal stimulus package and, after the May 1 Economic Forum, recommendations on balancing the budget.

Arberry said in a letter responding to Gibbons this week May 1 was too late in the process.

"Waiting until the final 30 days of the regular legislative session to begin reviewing potential budget adjustments as well as beginning the time consuming task of closing budgets is unrealistic," Arberry wrote.

Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.