LAS VEGAS -- It's nearly the eve of Governor-Elect Brian Sandoval's tenure in Carson City and already some controversy over his budget reduction plans.
The I-Team obtained copies of plans to eliminate certain parts of the agriculture board -- a move that has some saying the water pipeline plan may strengthen as a result. It's all about the future of drinking water in Las Vegas.
After a scathing employee survey, the head of Nevada's Department of Agriculture was told by the Sandoval administration he would not be retained. Now, the whole department could be under the gun. That has some in northern Nevada worried.
A weakened department rolled into another agency could remove powerful voices in opposition to the Southern Nevada Water Authority's plans for the water pipeline. The Sandoval administration budget document obtained by the I-Team removes the director position altogether, along with three other jobs.
Earlier this week, Sandoval talked with reporters about agency consolidation, but agriculture board Commissioner Hank Vogler sees his way of life targeted.
"We want to protect agriculture. Each one of us on that board represents a part of agriculture and we have an expertise and constituency that we defend," said Vogler.
"If eliminated means consolidating into other departments, yes, that's a discussion that we're having right now," said Governor-Election Brian Sandoval.
The move comes with some controversy, because the director of the department came under fire recently with an internal survey. Tony Lesperance, respected by the board, was blasted by some employees for making work at the department frustrating according to northern Nevada media reports.
Lesperance wasn't available for comment because of the holiday. The Sandoval administration had no direct comment about the budget moves. 8 News Now is told more about those plans will be revealed later next week.
