The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Board hears update on proposed budget: Chief Financial Officer Abbe Yacoben provided an update on the budget process for fiscal year 2026, while Budget Director Lori Cooke went into detail on the various funds and appropriations in the recommended budget.
Yacoben sought input and guidance on several items that are still to be determined in the proposed budget, including moving eight positions from ARPA funding – which is set to expire – to the General Fund. The $1.2 million cost to do so will be more than offset with the $6 million generated by interest on ARPA funds.
She also recommended that the Washoe County Library receive $1.3 million in general fund support to be budgeted centrally and added to the residual expansion fund balance of approximately $3.5 million. These funds would be used as needed based upon a vote of Library Board of Trustees.
“This Board has been clear that we don’t want to see layoffs,” Chair Hill said. “We want to see how departments can find efficiencies and cost-savings and return money to the General Fund.”
“I think we’ve made so much progress as a County, and I don’t think that any department wants to see that progress diminished,” Chair Hill said. “We’ve increased Library hours, we’ve increased sheriff’s deputies, we’ve supported our most vulnerable people at the Cares Campus and prevented deaths on the street. I think that we’ve done incredible work, and we don’t want to go backward, but this is an opportunity to tighten and see what we need the next fiscal year and make some hard decisions or potentially find some new revenues.”
Cooke laid out the next steps in the budget process, which include a public hearing and adoption on May 20, and then it will be filed with the Nevada Department of Taxation.
2. Board conducts first hearing on revised ordinance related to Citizen Advisory Boards: Citizen Advisory Boards (CABs) are formal, public boards that provide input to County Commissioners for their respective neighborhoods or districts. They function according to County Code Chapter 5, and today the Board conducted a first hearing on proposed revisions to the code.
“I believe the CAB is the closest you can get as a commissioner to really collaborate and offer an opportunity to the residents and constituents that you serve,” Commissioner Clara Andriola said.
The revisions were developed after a countywide input session and community surveys, as described by Candee Ramos, Commission Support Program manager.
The revisions include:
- Adding clarifying language stating that the CABs’ purpose is to assist, advise and collaborate with the county commissioner in whose district the CAB is located (as well as the county commission), and that the advice given is on issues within Washoe County’s governmental jurisdiction. Essentially, the new language clarifies that action taken by the CABs must pertain to subjects within the County’s purview.
- Requiring that the geographical boundaries of the CABs fall within a single commissioner district rather than share boundaries between districts, as some CABs currently do.
- Allowing persons residing within one mile of the geographical boundaries of the CABs to serve as board members. This proposed amendment will alleviate some concerns with adjusting CAB boundaries to fall within a single commissioner district.
- Detailing provisions for serving as CAB officers, including that they are appointed by the CAB rather than by County Commissioners, aligning terms of alternates with the terms of regular members, removing the prohibition against serving concurrently on the County’s Planning Commission and/or Board of Adjustment, and retaining applications for one year rather than three and a half years.
3. Board approves festival license for Red White and Tahoe Blue celebration: Incline Village holds an annual celebration for the Fourth of July holiday. In 2022 and 2023, a “Drone SkyShow” was put on by the organizers in lieu of fireworks. In 2024 the event was organized by a new organization, Red White and Tahoe Blue II, which moved away from the drone sky show and back to a fireworks show for the community. The event this year is proposed to be a repeat of last year’s event with a fireworks show for the community. The Outdoor Festival Business License is for spectator viewing only.
4. Commissioners read proclamations acknowledging special causes in Washoe County:
- Commissioner Jeanne Herman read a proclamation declaring May as International Internal Audit Awareness Month. Washoe County’s internal auditors, Katelyn Kleidosty and Louis Martensen received the proclamation.
“We truly appreciate the support and acknowledgement of the important role that internal audit plays in accountability, continuous improvement of county operations, strengthening operations and building trust,” Kleidosty said.
- Commissioner Mike Clark read a proclamation declaring May 14 Peace Officer Memorial Day and May 11-17 as National Police Week. Chief deputies from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office were in attendance to receive the proclamations.
“May is an important month to us, it’s a month of remembrance,” Chief Deputy Corey Solferino said. “We’ve attended several memorial ceremonies over the course of the last couple of weeks from the Reno Arch to our state memorial to the Hoff Memorial to last week in front of our very own building, and I’m happy to report that we have no line-of-duty deaths that were recognized this year. We did have a line-of-duty death in southern Nevada that will be memorialized next year. It’s a humble remembrance and we thank you for your county support.”
- Commissioner Mariluz Garcia read a proclamation declaring May as Treatment Court Month. Judge Egan Walker, Judge Chris Hazlett-Stevens, Judge Erika Flavin, Justice of the Peace Kendra Bertschy, and numerous staff members from Specialty Courts and court administrators were on hand to receive the proclamation and note the cooperation and collaboration between courts.
“When one rises, we all rise,” Judge Walker said. “This is smart justice. It’s working really well for people, and I’m incredibly privileged to be a part of it.”
- Commissioner Clara Andriola read a proclamation naming May 18 as Spanish Springs Library Day. Library representatives received the proclamation and invited the public to attend the library’s 20th anniversary celebration on Sunday, May 18. There will be a performance by the Eagle Wings Pageant Dancers from the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, and descendants of Paiute leader, activist, teacher, and interpreter Sarah Winnemucca will speak about her life as the library unveils a plaque commemorating her legacy and share a collection of artifacts from her life.
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