Reno’s Budget Blues Continue …
Picon was told by a Reno City Hall employee that Schieve and Reese didn’t want the announcement about city employee layoffs until they were on their summer break.
Picon had been told by an employee inside City of Reno Government the announcement there would be employee layoffs would be coming in early July 2025 - sure enough our intel was correct and the press release was issued yesterday regarding eight city employees positions being cut. Our inside intel said they knew all along these cuts were necessary but Mayor Hillary Schieve and Councilmember Devon Reese didn’t want the announcement to come until the council was on their summer break. Basically the City of Reno let the City of Sparks climb out on that limb with layoffs alone, while Reno allowed the scenario to appear they would not have any layoffs. We ponder if Sparks City Manager Dion Louthan will have a few harsh words for Jackie Bryant the next time they have coffee.
The City of Reno spends funds as directed by the Mayor and Councilmembers.
We’ve been waiting to run this article until the layoffs were announced by the city because it makes our question a little more important. The City of Reno is $25 million in the hole. That’s a gaping deficit — and it makes every dollar spent a decision worth scrutinizing. and now more so due to employee layoffs.
When the city announces it's handing out $25,000 each to Hot August Nights and LGBTQ+ Pride, and $18,000 to Holiday Lights it's only fair for taxpayers to ask: Is this really equitable? Is this really wise? And should the city be spending this money this way or should they be helping nonprofits.
Let’s break it down.
Hot August Nights is a major event. It spans a full week, draws tens of thousands of visitors, and fills hotels, restaurants, and streets with classic cars, music, and revenue. From a tourism standpoint, it's a local economic engine.
Christmas lights stretch for weeks across downtown and bring seasonal cheer. While not tied to a specific crowd size, they contribute to ambiance and downtown foot traffic, especially for local businesses.
Pride in Reno, part of a broader national movement and celebrated throughout the month of June across the country, is largely concentrated here as a single-day event with a parade and festival. It’s vibrant, celebratory, and meaningful — but it’s also shorter in duration and, by scale, smaller than the other two. Are taxpayers shelling out $25,000 for a one day event in September.
Think about it folks, Eddie Lorton, pays annually to turn the arch blue and gets no credit in fact, Councilmember Devon Reese who is aware of who pays for it refuses to admit it - yet Lorton keeps paying for it because he says, “It’s the right thing to do.” Why doesn’t Reese use City of Reno Room Tax Fund to pay for this annual lighting.
With money so tight at the City of Reno that employee layoffs have begun, it is all about how the city spends money, no matter what fund the money comes from- general fund or directed funds from the City of Reno Room Tax Fund. Here's the most important question: Does each event provide equal return on investment to justify identical funding?
This isn’t about questioning the value of any community or celebration — every group deserves recognition and visibility. But in a time when nonprofits are gasping for air - (think of what just happened at Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation), arts programs are folding, and essential services are being trimmed, giving identical dollar amounts to such vastly different events raises real concerns.
Is this an attempt at appearing "balanced" without actually being fair? Or is it being driven by personal advocacy priorities within the city leadership.
If we want to be equitable, that means looking at scale, community impact, economic benefit, and sustainability. Giving the same amount across the board — when the board isn’t level — isn’t fairness. It’s formulaic politics disguised as parity.
Reno’s leaders have tough decisions ahead. Let’s just hope they’re using real metrics, not just virtue signals, to guide those decisions. Because when you’re $25 million in the red, every $25,000 counts.