Governor Lombardo Calls for Clark County School District’s Budget Shortfalls to Be Included in Ongoing Audit

On Thursday, Governor Joe Lombardo sent a public letter to Nevada Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, requesting that the Clark County School District’s (CCSD) budget shortfalls be included in the ongoing Legislative Commission’s audit. The governor expressed concern over the district’s financial issues, which have raised fears about potential staff reductions.

“We are concerned with reports that CCSD’s current budget issues will potentially result in the release or elimination of teachers and other staff positions,” Lombardo wrote. “Given last session’s unprecedented increase in funding for education, such a scenario would be unacceptable.”

Lombardo’s letter urged the audit to investigate the district’s financial processes, identify how the shortfall occurred, and recommend solutions to avoid similar problems in the future. The governor also emphasized the need to consider how the state’s legislative and executive branches can help prevent these budgetary issues going forward.

This request follows a tense Clark County Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, where board president Evelyn Garcia Morales and non-voting member Isaac Barron clashed over the district’s budget transparency. The meeting, which focused on finding a replacement for former CCSD Superintendent Jesus Jara, was put on hold due to the ongoing concerns.

Governor Lombardo urged Cannizzaro to confirm the inclusion of CCSD’s budget issues in the audit at her “earliest convenience.”