 |
 |
 |
||
|
||||
|
July 12, 2006
Sales tax hike will be on November ballot
By MARK WAITE
Commissioner Patricia Cox, who was absent from the meeting last week in which commissioners deadlocked 2-2, was present for the vote Tuesday. Cox said she asked for the item to be placed on the agenda. Commissioners Joni Eastley and Roberta "Midge" Carver voted against putting the question before voters Nov. 7. Cox said she has heard from residents throughout Nye County who want more police and fire services. She said the sales tax increase would amount to only an additional $50 per year for residents buying $10,000 worth of items. She added, "The tourists and snowbirds can help pay for services we provide them." Cox said probably 80 percent of the residents of Nye County shop in Clark County and other counties where sales taxes are higher. Eastley and Carver didn't comment Tuesday. But Eastley last week said she voted against the ballot question since all of the county town boards, except Pahrump's, voted against it. Eastley said the funding would primarily benefit Pahrump. "This affects all the communities in the county, not just Pahrump," Cox retorted. "Different communities are in need of fire equipment." Nye County levies impact fees on new construction in Pahrump Valley to help pay for fire and sheriff's department services, but Cox said those fees don't pay for additional personnel. Interim County Manager Ron Williams said the ballot question should include language pointing out that it won't increase pay for existing fire and sheriff's department employees. "Residents have repeatedly said they want more police and fire services throughout Nye County," Cox said. It's not just due to the recent growth in the Pahrump Valley, she said. "The last several years before we had the growth, there was a problem of funding in these areas." Pahrump resident Dan Tetzlaff urged commissioners to vote it down. Unlike the commissioners from northern Nye County, who complained most of the revenues would go to Pahrump, Tetzlaff said Pahrump wouldn't receive enough of the money. "The state allocation for sales tax is grossly obsolete," Tetzlaff said. He added Pahrump residents contribute a lot more money in property taxes than they receive back in services. Tetzlaff said there are estimates that 20,000 people will be moving into Pahrump Valley. Nye County officials estimate they would collect $2.4 million in additional sales tax revenue with the half-percent increase. Pahrump would generate $1.9 million of that increase, Tonopah $150,833 and Beatty $59,708. Another Pahrump resident, Jim Petell, said Nye County is passing the ballot question without educating the voters. Cox pledged there will be an adequate public information campaign. "If the voters decide no, the beauty of it is, it goes away," Cox said. County Commission Chairman Gary Hollis said it's an advisory question only. "If it passed, it would still have to go to the Nevada Legislature for approval," Hollis said. When it comes to the vote, he added, "Personally I think I'm dinged if I do, I'm dinged if I'm not." But in the end Hollis said he agreed with Cox's last statement. "It's giving commissioners an idea of what voters want." The only sticking point Tuesday morning was on an accounting matter, a suggestion by bond attorney Jennifer Stern to set aside the revenues from the sales tax increase separately from the general fund. Commissioner Candice Trummell was worried there would be separate accounts for each town. Sheriff Tony De Meo said the funds could be allocated to each of the county's three sheriff's districts. The sheriff's department could hire another deputy for Tonopah, while a deputy could be divided between Gabbs and Reese River Valley for example. A deputy could serve both Amargosa Valley and Beatty, he said. |
|
