Veterinarian position accidentally cut during special session

The Board of Examiners voted Monday to restore the position of administrator of veterinary medical services in the state Agriculture Department.

Department Director Tony Lesperance told the board headed by the governor that the position was inadvertently included on a list of open positions during February's special legislative session. Lawmakers cut funding to all those open positions to save money.

"That position was declared open even though that position is currently occupied," said Lesperance.

Director of Administration Andrew Clinger confirmed that the job was incorrectly put on the vacant list, "even though it was filled at the time." He also pointed out that state law requires the Department of Agriculture to have a veterinary administrator.

Lesperance told the board, which also includes the secretary of state and attorney general, that he and his staff believed that "animal disease and its relation to human health issues was of sufficient significance that the department would go to great lengths to protect the positions occupied by the four veterinarians."

He said those positions have become even more important with the growing number of diseases that not only infect animals but can transfer to human beings.

The board voted unanimously to ask the legislative Interim Finance Committee to reinstate the position and the $131,661 to fund it before the cut takes effect July 1.

In addition, the board voted to appropriate $40,000 for a one-month intensive push to complete Nevada's application for federal Race to the Top education funding. The state is eligible for up to $160 million in public education funding if successful. The application for the competitive grant money must be in Washington D.C. by June.