Nevada forestry chief gets belated OK for $2.3M purchase

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Nevada’s state forestry chief got belated approval for spending $2.3 million to buy 10 large wildfire crew transport trucks, after acknowledging she didn’t obtain proper authorization.

State Forester Casey KC apologized during a state Board of Examiners meeting on Tuesday, saying the funding was included in the department budget passed by the Legislature but “fell through the cracks” of formal approval.

Gov. Steve Sisolak said he was reluctant to approve the purchase because of the violation, but he joined state Attorney General Aaron Ford and Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske in authorizing it, the Nevada Appeal reported .

“We need these 10 vehicles because of the approach of the fire season,” the governor said.

Sisolak warned KC not to allow a similar action to happen again.