Gov. Jim Gibbons has told Chancellor Jim Rogers, Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid and other officials to get real when it comes to cutting the budget, according to Reno’s biggest defender, Gazette-Journal political reporter Anjeanette Damon.

It’s his first personal pushback since Rogers and the locals staged a government mutiny, refusing Gibbons’ request to identify places where budgets could be cut as much as 5 percent, thanks to gambling and sales tax shortfalls.

Damon quoted Gibbons on her blog thus: "The reality is the revenues coming in to the state are lower. They have to face reality. I increased their budget 13 percent over the biennium, I would think they could look at their expenditures and find some way to assist in helping with this revenue decline."

You mean, telling Gibbons to blow it out his ass isn’t helpful?

Anyway, this would normally be the part where we make jokes about Gibbons himself being out of touch with reality, except for one thing: He’s right. The state is seeing less in tax money coming in, and cuts have to be made, or the budget will be unconstitutionally out of balance. Sure, part of the problem is Gibbons’ own fealty to that stupid no-taxes pledge. But that’s not something he’s able to move away from, ideologically, psychologically or politically.

So given that reality, and given that Gibbons has the authority to make the cuts without anybody’s permission, it seems like the responsible thing to do is to find ways to make any potential cuts hurt the least.

We understand that Rogers, Reid and others don’t want to make any cuts, and that they disagree with the notion of cutting higher education, juvenile justice services and the rest. That’s clear. But it’s kind of their job to step in when things don’t go well and fix the problem. Just saying no — or issuing broadsides saying the governor should raise taxes or convene a tax-raising summit — isn’t going to do the trick. (Besides, issuing big-picture declarations that nobody pays any attention to anyway is our job.)

Gibbons is going to cut no matter what, or so we think. (Asked about it by Damon, Gibbons said, "I think there are a lot of smart people in this state making those decisions who can figure it out themselves what’s going to happen." Hmmmm. Sounds ominous. Then again, it sounds funny, because it seems like the governor is saying that he’s not a smart person making those decisions. Ha!)

Anyway, Gibbons has convened a meeting with local officials Nov. 7 to discuss the matter. The time between now and then might be best used figuring out how to cover the shortfall. And maybe in those discussions, Rogers, Reid and their allies can explain to the governor why cutting higher education and human services is a really bad idea. Who knows? He might change his mind, and choose to cut elsewhere. (We know, but still…) But you can’t be part of the conversation unless you’re in that room, right?

UPDATE: Gibbons office just sent out a news release formally announcing the Nov. 7 meeting. It reads in part:

"Reduced revenue projections require us to evaluate our state’s spending priorities to ensure that we continue to responsibly manage taxpayer dollars," said Governor Jim Gibbons. "This meeting will provide an opportunity for key decision makers and state budget experts to review the state’s current and future fiscal status."
 
Governor Gibbons invited the following state and local leaders to the November 7 meeting: Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert, Clark County Commission Chair Rory Reid, Washoe County Commission Chair Bob Larkin, Elko County Commission Chair John Ellison, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman,  Reno Mayor Bob Cashell, North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon, Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson, Sparks Mayor Geno Martini, and Chancellor Jim Rogers.
 
"Like any family or business facing potential income reductions, the state must create contingency plans to live within its means, and I will lead our efforts to ensure we have a constitutionally mandated balanced budget without dipping further into the pockets of our hardworking taxpayers," Governor Gibbons concluded.

Notice the release says Gibbons "invited" those people, not that they’ve committed to attend. They should, as we’ve said, but it will still be interesting to see who shows up. Especially Rogers, whose name was listed last on this list. Oh, sorry, we’re reading into things again.