By Ray Hagar, Reno Gazette-Journal

The Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority laid off seven full-time employees Tuesday as part of nearly $1 million in budget cuts, resulting from the continued recession of the local and national economies, RSCVA officials said.

The layoffs and budget cuts were anticipated since RSCVA officials said two weeks ago that it would have to fill a projected $1.6 million deficit for the current fiscal year.

Falling room taxes from a soft summer season are the major component of the RSCVA’s current budget problem, according to RSCVA documents. The RSCVA saw declines of more than $6.6 million in room tax revenues, or a drop of 11 percent, in the traditionally strong months of June, July and August when compared to the same months of 2008.

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