BudgetBudget pressures lead Nevada to reduces state’s anti-terrorism programs

The Nevada Homeland Security Commission, led by Governor Brian Sandoval, the commission’s chairman,  drastically reduced the state’s anti-terrorism programs because of reductions in federal funding for these programs. The total federal funding for the state’s anti-terrorism program was reduced by 60 percent – from $10.8 million in 2011 to $4.3 million in 2012.

The Las Vegas Informer reports that the commission approved funding for ten projects and programs, including its three threat analysis — or fusion centers — projects, but eleven other programs received no funding at all. Six of these eleven programs were to sustain existing programs, from the Washoe County Silver Shield program to the Carson City Regional Citizen Corps. Silver Shield programs are those designed to protect critical infrastructure, from water systems to government operations to the Hoover Dam.

The programs which the commission approved for continued funding would receive less money than was initially requested for them. Thus, the northern Nevada fusion center received $283,240 after initially requesting $482,772. The southern Nevada fusion center received just over $1 million after requesting $1.46 million.

Rick Martin, program manager for the Nevada Division of Emergency Management, said the funding priorities selected by the commission will keep Nevada safe. “That’s certainly what we’re concerned with as well, and that was part of the commission’s priorities this year, is to ensure that we virtually get the biggest bang for the buck and that we are safe and that we are sustaining the programs and projects that are most important to this process,” he told the Informer.