State of State 2023: Lombardo requests 12% raises to state workers

During his first State of the State speech, Gov. Joe Lombardo said he wants to cut taxes for businesses and residents. He also said that he wants to make sure that no one time surplus money from the federal government went to funding reoccurring programs.

Lombardo also suggested suspended the state gasoline tax for a year.

“My budget doesn’t raise one dime of new taxes,” he said, claiming his plan cuts taxes for households and businesses, pays down debt and saves “$1 for every new dollar spent in the general fund.”

On education, he asked the Legislature to make the single biggest investment in education in Nevada history.

“Not a penny of the state’s one-time surplus will be used to fund any recurring programs,” he said.

The Republican governor also called to raise state employee pay 12% over the next two years.

Speaking before members of Nevada’s Assembly and Senate he called for stiffening penalties for criminals.

The former Clark County sheriff called for creating a new state office to expand school choice. He also called to undo many of the changes to the voting system that were passed under former Gov. Steve Sisolak. Lombardo wants to repeal mandating mail-in ballots be sent to all voters.

In his first State of the State address to a joint session of the Democrat-controlled Legislature in the Assembly Chambers in Carson City, Lombardo said he’s determined to work cooperatively with majority Democrats and minority Republicans alike to accomplish an ambitious agenda.

“As governor, I am filled with hope and optimism of what we can accomplish if we simply summon the will to work together,” he said. “On the one hand, we have exciting opportunities within our grasp but, on the other, we must not allow ourselves to give way to the temptation to overspend.”

The legislative session starts on Feb. 6.