Henderson Releases Tentative 2018 Budget for Public Review
Henderson, Nev. – The City of Henderson presented its tentative 2018 budget to Mayor Hafen and members of the City Council at last night’s City Council meeting. The $252 million operating budget continues to invest in providing key services important to maintaining Henderson residents’ quality of life and reflects top community priorities including public safety, infrastructure such as streets and award-winning parks and recreation programs.
“I am proud that we continue to offer premier services for our growing community while also maintaining a balanced budget and the same property tax rate for nearly three decades,” Mayor Andy Hafen said. “I encourage Henderson residents to look at the tentative budget and to let me and the members of the City Council know how they feel about this blueprint for investing in our community’s needs.”
Included in the tentative budget proposal is funding for nine firefighters to staff the new fire station in Inspirada and 25 new police officers paid for through the “More Cops” initiative and “Clark County Crime Prevention Act of 2016.” Spending levels in the 2018 tentative budget are still below those from 2010, despite a 15 percent increase in population that has required additional services to meet the needs of Henderson residents. The city also continues to maintain one of the lowest employee to citizen ratios in Southern Nevada.
The $252 million operating budget is familiar to most residents as the money that the city uses for day-to-day operations. The total $541 million balanced budget includes the operating budget along with other funds such as the tax-payer approved sales tax to pay for police officers and the city’s utility fund. In preparing this year’s budget, the city has heard from residents in a number of ways including public meetings and input on the city’s land-use plan.
The entire $541 million tentative budget is available online at cityofhenderson.com along with a Powerpoint presentation that highlights major aspects of the operating budget. The city’s tentative budget is also available for public review at the City Clerk’s Office inside City Hall.
A public comment session regarding the tentative budget will be held on May 16 at 6 p.m. during the City Council meeting. Before the Mayor and City Council decide on adopting the budget, members of the public will be invited to come forward and give their input.
