An attempt by Nye County Commissioner Butch Borasky to try again at passing a half-cent sales tax increase failed Monday, as a motion to schedule a public hearing lacked a second.

County commissioners voted 3-2 last December not to enact a half-cent sales tax increase, with proceeds to have been split equally between the Nye County Sheriff's Office and county fire departments.

Commissioner Roberta "Midge" Carver, who voted against the tax increase before, said she agreed to put the item on the agenda after numerous requests from her constituents.

Commissioner Gary Hollis, the only other supporter during the previous vote, left the meeting before the vote Tuesday, leaving behind only Borasky and the three commissioners who voted against the tax increase.

A couple of members of the public spoke in favor of the tax increase, which would hike the Nye County sales tax from 6.75 to 7.25 percent.

"When I was running for commissioner, I stated if people voted for it, I would support it," Dan Schinhofen said. He noted tourists would pay much of the tax.

"We started this three years ago and we need it even more today," said Bob Howard. He pointed to the report by county Financial Officer Tammy Otero earlier that Nye County would face a $2.5 million shortfall in the coming fiscal year.

Jim Petell noted the sales tax increase would have generated $2.7 million, of which 81.8 percent would be appropriated to Pahrump based on its percentage of county population.

"I originally asked to put this on the agenda. I will put my political career on the line to support this," Borasky said.

Borasky said people in his district continually ask when commissioners will take another vote on the hike.

"It was supported by the voters," said Borasky. "It was a majority."

Nye County voters passed the sales tax increase in November 2006 by a razor thin margin of 5,800 to 5,784 votes. The Nevada Legislature then passed it on the last day of the session June 4, 2007, as an amendment to another bill

"We're really stretching a rubber band here that's going to break," Borasky said. "We're going to have a major event and we're not going to be able to handle it."

When asked later why he reintroduced an item that had already been voted down, Borasky said, "I thought I'd take another crack at it. I've been encouraged by the citizenry, basically seniors, who are quite concerned whether they have adequate protection with the fire and police. I get a lot of calls. My district is in the heart of Calvada and there's a lot of retired people. My district isn't out in the boondocks where they could give a flying anything," he said.

Borasky took a dig at Commissioner Peter Liakopoulos, who left the meeting after the vote to fly to Washington, D.C., for discussions on Yucca Mountain.

"I resent somebody saying something about saving money and then getting on an airplane and flying to Washington, D.C.," Borasky said.

Liakopoulos previously had talked about saving county money by not extending County Manager Ron Williams' contract past the expiration date of May 30.

Borasky said he hopes voters remember those who voted down the sales tax increase.