NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- North Las Vegas city workers, firefighters, and police officers voiced their frustrations Tuesday night as the North Las Vegas City Council heard its final budget recommendation.

"How we got to this point is up for debate," said one concerned resident. "Was it the $285 million spent on a water reclamation facility? Was it the $145 million city hall? Was it the obscene spending of taxpayers' dollars during a time when most were saving?"

The city council approved the plan which could result in the layoffs of nearly 80 public safety workers and another 170 city workers.

In order to satisfy a $31 million budget shortfall, city council members contend they had no choice but to approve cuts to almost every public service. That includes parks and recreation and public works. Spending in some departments is being rolled back to pre-2001 levels.

NORTH LAS VEGAS -- The 23-month-old toddler that drowned in a backyard swimming pool has been identified as Steve Medrano by the Clark County Coroner's office.

North Las Vegas police say the boy was under the supervision of a family member who lost sight of him for a few moments. The boy was taken to the hospital where he later died.

The death is under investigation but no charges have been filed at this point.

The Culinary Training Academy (CTA) today is hosting an open house for all former Sahara workers seeking retraining and potential new job placement.

Monday's closure will affect nearly 400 members of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165.  The casino’s owner, SBE Entertainment, and the unions have worked together closely to help workers financially weather the shutdown and secure new employment.

SBE agreed to provide workers with severance pay based on their years of service.  Even workers who were laid off within the last 12 months are eligible for the pay.  Workers with 20 or more years at the company will receive $5,000.  Workers with 15 to 20 years will receive $3,750.  The amounts go down from there, but even workers with less than a year of service will receive a severance check.