Today, I announced my plan to address the state's current budget shortfall.

All Nevadans are facing tough times and our state budget is experiencing unprecedented deficits. Revenues are down significantly, caseloads are up, and tough decisions will have to be made to keep our state solvent.

I understand the impact of these proposed salary and benefit reductions on our state employees, but I believe these reductions are a better alternative than mass layoffs, tax increases, or deficit spending.

Make no mistake, there is a difficult road ahead and none of the choices to address this problem are easy or painless. Given the importance of this issue, I have studied the problem for months, enlisted the best and brightest minds in our state to aid me, and offer this plan as means to help our current leaders in their efforts to shore up our ailing state budget.

My deficit-reduction plan can be read here.

Read more in the press release below:

Sandoval Offers Budget Shortfall Plan
Calls for 4% salary reductions for state employees, state health plan modifications, and targeted budget cuts

LAS VEGAS, NV -- Gubernatorial candidate Brian Sandoval today announced his plan to address the state's current budget shortfall.

"All Nevadans are facing tough times and our state budget is experiencing unprecedented deficits," Sandoval said. "Revenues are down significantly, caseloads are up, and tough decisions will have to be made to keep our state solvent."

"I understand the impact of these proposed salary and benefit reductions on our state employees, but I believe these reductions are a better alternative than mass layoffs, tax increases, or deficit spending."

"Make no mistake, there is a difficult road ahead and none of the choices to address this problem are easy or painless," Sandoval continued. "Given the importance of this issue, I have studied the problem for months, enlisted the best and brightest minds in our state to aid me, and offer this plan as means to help our current leaders in their efforts to shore up our ailing state budget."

Among other items, Sandoval's plan, which can be viewed here, proposes the following: a temporary 4% salary cut for all state employees, reforming the Public Employee Benefits Program (PEBS), privatizing selected state services and strategic budget reductions and consolidations. Taken together as a package, Sandoval's plan aims to realize a savings goal of $200 to more than $500 million.

Applied Analysis prepared an assessment of the current state budget situation for the Sandoval campaign. That summary can be viewed here.

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