Las Vegas NowI-Team: Stimulus Money Moving Like Molasses

I-Team: Stimulus Money Moving Like Molasses

More than $2 billion in stimulus money could be putting Nevadans to work. Instead, it's bogged down in bureaucracy and held back by slow state agencies.

Since February, state agencies have been cobbling together applications for more than $2.2 billion. Many programs lag behind as reporting requirements inch closer.

Nevada Funding Allocations

Thursday lawmakers on the Stimulus Oversight Committee grilled agency heads for five hours.

"It's unacceptable because this is money that we've known about since February," said Senator Steven Horsford, a Democrat. The North Las Vegas representative has been pushing for more answers and has not found many.

"What I think we have here is a lack of leadership. A lack of expertise and really, supervision, to make sure we're carrying out what we said we're going to do," he said.

Lawmakers have been greeted with uneven distribution of money from the beginning. Around $450 million has been distributed for emergency unemployment benefits. RTC and NDOT have also made strides to get spades in the ground.

The success stories are few and far between so far. Energy efficiency plans for schools and state buildings appear to have to go back to rewriting stage. Horsford said applications were written incorrectly in the state energy department.

State Clean Diesel Grants Program

"The money's available, and we've known about it and we've had it for months and why aren't we moving on it?" asked Senator Shirley Breeden.

It is a similar situation for a Clean Energy Diesel Program. That will bring $1.7 million for new or retrofitted school busses. The vehicles will never come to Clark County, however. The state ruled the Clark County School District's buses are all newer and not available for upgrade or replacement.

Horsford said a large part of the problem comes from the oversight committee process. Lawmakers have little direct say over where the money goes during the interim session. That delays implantation and accountability, he says.

"What tends to happen is that when we're not in session, nothing gets done," Hosford said.