North Las Vegas Set to Layoff Employees | News

With budget cuts set to start Sunday and city offices closed on Friday, Thursday could be the last day for 108 city of North Las Vegas employees

The cash-strapped city is trying to fill a $30 million budget deficit. Beginning July 1, city services will be streamlined. There will be cutbacks in library and recreation center hours, elimination of some utility maintenance jobs and enforced unpaid time off. City Manager Tim Hacker says the tough decisions are necessary to build a stronger foundation for the future.

The bulk of the layoffs will come from corrections employees. In all, 93 jobs from the correction’s department will be eliminated. North Las Vegas closed its detention center and is now renting a separate wing of the Las Vegas City Jail.

Sergeant Leonard Cardinale with the North Las Vegas Police Supervisors Union says the cuts will impact services. Cardinale says two sergeants will be laid off, the remaining lieutenants will be demoted to sergeant and there will only be one lieutenant in the jail.

"Our concern is that the police officers are down in Las Vegas booking people. Who is answering calls? Who is protecting the city? What happens if there is an emergency in the far northwest?" Cardinale said.

Police officers will have to travel an extra three miles to reach the Las Vegas City Jail to book people, which could take an additional 30 minutes, depending on traffic. Cardinale says the city is putting the safety of North Las Vegas citizens at risk.

North Las Vegas Firefighters are also taking on the city. The North Las Vegas Firefighters Union Local 1607 launched a new advertising campaign calling on the city to sell its new city hall. The firefighters say it is not fair to cut back on emergency services after spending $130 million on the building.

To see their arguements for selling the city hall, go to fixlvnow.com.