A 12-3 vote advances a charter amendment requiring the county’s $880M+ budget process to begin in September. File photo
🎧 Clark County’s $880M Budget — Who’s Watching?
Clark County Today is taking a brief look at each of the 10 amendments that the Clark County Charter Review Commission passed in expectation of bringing them to the November 2026 General Election
Paul Valencia
Clark County Today
Last week, the Clark County Charter Review Commission, an elected body of 15 members, passed 10 amendments in expectation of being placed on the November 2026 general election ballot.
In this series, Clark County Today is providing more context on each amendment, including quotes from the sponsor of each amendment.
In this story, we look at 26-10, Revised Budget Transparency Process.
If passed by the voters, this would amend the county charter to require earlier and more transparent budget development and publication. It would also require the County Manager to publish budget preparation instructions, require county departments to submit budget-related information earlier in the budget cycle, and require that budget documents be posted on a public website. Finally, it would also require at least two public presentations of the preliminary budget earlier in the budget cycle.
This amendment was sponsored by Peter Silliman, commissioner from District 5. It passed 12-3.
Silliman opened his argument with a big number, more than $880 million. That was what the Clark County Council approved in December for the county’s annual budget. He said he believes most people in the county had no idea the budget was passed.
“That’s because the budget process and public involvement starts around November 1 and ends around December 1,” Silliman said.
Many people are involved in elections and then preparing for the holidays. The timeline, he said, gives people very little time to add their input.
“The public participation is minimal,” he said.
That could change with this amendment, ensuring the budget process begins in September.
“It follows a theme that people want,” Silliman said, and that is more budget transparency.
Public comment on the subject agreed.
“It would be a good thing to revise the budget process,” one said. “We need more transparency.”
In fact, that person noted that transparency seemed to be related to many of the amendments the review committee was considering.
“I’m seeing a pattern here,” the person said. “Transparency is the answer.”
Another noted that the proposed timeline will give citizens more opportunity to be involved in the process.
Of note: The meeting on July 8 was to listen to public comment and to vote on the amendments. The sponsor of each amendment gave a brief argument for his or her amendment, but there were no discussions among the commissioners. Those discussions were made in previous Charter Review Commission meetings. In this meeting, it was just a yes or no vote on each amendment.
To see the recap on 26-01, Clarifying Nonpartisan Office Elections, go here: https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/charter-review-commission-amendment-26-01-clarifying-nonpartisan-office-elections/
To see the recap on 26-07, Housing Impact Analysis, go here: https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/charter-review-commission-amendment-26-07-housing-impact-analysis/
To see the recap on 26-08, Requiring Supermajority Council Approval for County Taxes, go here:
Charter Review Commission 26-08: Supermajority Council Approval for County Taxes – ClarkCountyToday.com
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