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Commission staff report: case backlog, tech request in governor’s budget, outreach growth
Summary
Executive Director Ross Armstrong reported case-load metrics and operations updates: a higher incoming case volume, a new quarterly case log, inclusion of a case-management upgrade and education subscriptions in the governor’s recommended budget, and outreach increases including Nevada Ethics Online and expanded trainings.
Executive Director Ross Armstrong presented the commission’s operations report on Jan. 16, highlighting caseload metrics, technology requests included in the governor’s recommended budget, and expanded outreach and training activity.
Caseload and case-processing: Armstrong said the commission currently had 24 matters listed as pending panel on the quarterly case log but explained that several entries represented multiple subjects or related filings; after anticipated panel processing the office expects about 10 separate pending investigations. Armstrong noted that the new quarterly case log reports an average process time of 71 days (from complaint filing to disposition) and that calendar year 2024 produced roughly 23 more complaints than 2023.
Budget and technology: Armstrong said the governor’s recommended budget includes funding the commission requested for educational subscriptions and for a case-management system upgrade. A requested office relocation from Carson City to Reno was not included. Staff said the classification/compensation study and related compensation changes remain under review by state administrators.
Staffing and process improvements: Staff reported a strategic-plan implementation effort is underway, including a time-study of staff tasks, quarterly tracking of training metrics and a case-log redesign to reduce end-of-year manual work. Armstrong told commissioners the office will continue pipeline efforts to fill an associate counsel position and is exploring flexible options (remote or multiple smaller satellite workspaces) to address recruitment challenges.
Outreach and education: Outreach and Education Officer Sam Harvey reported a marked increase in training activity. The office tracks Nevada Ethics Online (NEO) usage and live trainings; an internal baseline (since Jan. 2023) was roughly 687 people trained per six-month period, and the commission more than doubled that number in the second half of 2024. Harvey also said outreach staff attended the 2024 COGEL (Council on Governmental Ethics Laws) conference and are working on a fiftieth-anniversary communications plan and an "ethics ambassador" toolkit for agency trainers.
Public records and platform use: The office reported 60 public-records requests since the fiscal-year start (compared with 13 at the same time last fiscal year) and continues to monitor social platforms; staff noted fluctuations in followers on X and said they are watching new platforms such as BlueSky for potential outreach.
No formal action was required; commissioners asked follow-up questions about salary classification review timing, relocation cost treatment and the case-log methodology. Armstrong said staff will report back on staffing and budgetary requests as the legislative session proceeds.
