It will be at least two more months before Nye County commissioners vote on the half-cent sales tax proposal.

The Pahrump Town Board initially wanted the item on the agenda for the July 17 commission meeting. Town board Chairwoman Laurayne Murray and member John McDonald sat pensively in the audience Tuesday as Commissioner Peter Liakopoulos requested the item be tabled again until the October commission meeting.

Liakopoulos wouldn't be specific about his request to table the item.

Murray said Liakopoulos is interested in knowing how constituents in his precincts voted on the sales tax increase among other questions.

"I just need a little bit more time to look at it. It was something I originally campaigned against," Liakopoulos said as the commission meeting broke up Tuesday. But he added, "Having gotten involved, having been elected to take a look at it, it's something that we need. I just need a couple items I need taken care of.

"We can still get everything done for January," he added.

The ballot question passed by just 38 votes in the five precincts of Liakopoulos's District 5. The proposal passed county-wide by a razor-thin margin of 18 votes.

The Nevada Legislature approved the increase for Nye County as an amendment June 4.

If commissioners approve the tax increase in October, Murray said the town wouldn't realize any of the additional funds until January 2008.

Murray said the concept of having a fire protection district was discussed as an alternative, should the sales tax fail a vote of the commission, but she said that would be less preferable. A sales tax would include visitors to Nye County, like snowbirds, helping to foot the bill for the added sheriff's deputies and firefighters instead of just property owners. The establishment of a fire district would also require another vote by the state legislature, she said.

"The town's going to have to come up with something. The current source of revenue, status quo, isn't going to be sufficient to provide any level of service we're comfortable with," Murray said.

"It's good that they're being cautious in making sure they understand what they're allowed to do under the law, what works best for the community they're representing, their constituents, that kind of thing. Delays are simply postponing the inevitable because we're going to have to have funding. This is the most fair and equitable option."

Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo, whose department would realize half of the funds, said he was prepared to make a presentation Tuesday but wasn't in a hurry.

"We'd like to see it passed, our schedule has plans for the money," DeMeo said. "The most important thing is making sure we present the case right because we only have one shot at this, making sure the case is presented to commissioners who have the facts."

Commissioner Butch Borasky wagered a guess the sales tax increase would pass by a 3-2 vote, with northern Commissioners Roberta "Midge" Carver and Joni Eastley opposed. Eastley and Carver were against putting the question on the ballot.

Round Mountain Gold Co. representatives also opposed the measure.