Legislature needs to approve budget, now

Like any family, Douglas County is going to have a

hard time figuring out how to make ends meet in these trying times.

The more money coming in, the better off everyone is. The less money, like now, the more trouble balancing the budget.

Balancing Douglas County's budget is a $123.7 million exercise in performance art.

The difference so far between expenditures and revenue is $1.58 million, which the county will get by dipping into the reserve fund.

State law requires that the county balance the budget by April 15. Unfortunately, the Nevada Legislature is under no such constraint.

Legislators may not have a budget completed before the county's public hearing on May 18. That means such issues as medical care for indigents may end up in the county's lap without any warning. Or it could mean the county could make up its budget without the reserves, should it gain an unexpected windfall.

Nevada's a gambling state, but asking its local governments to bet on what the Legislature will do with the budget is too much.

Before choosing a state insect or debating rules for motorcycle helmets, Nevada's lawmakers need to work on the budget. Otherwise, balancing budgets for the state's local governments will continue to be a crapshoot.