Initiative petition signatures submitted (UPDATED)

By David McGrath Schwartz

Monday, May 19, 2008 | 3:45 p.m.

Supporters of three Las Vegas Sands-backed initiatives today submitted tens of thousands of signatures to the Clark County registrar of voters.

Petitions for the "Funding Nevada's Priorities Act," which would divert room tax money to the state to fund education and public safety, had 74,247 signatures. Supporters of the "Education Enhancement Act" gathered 74,079 signatures for that measure, which would use the diverted dollars for education alone.

That money now goes to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote Las Vegas and to be disbursed to local government for parks and recreation.

A third Las Vegas Sands initiative, which would require a two-thirds majority of voters to pass any tax increase initiative, was submitted with 85,048 signatures.

In Clark County, initiative backers need 40,364 signatures of registered voters to qualify for the ballot, said Larry Lomax, Clark County registrar of voters.

Signatures are due to be turned in to all of the state's 17 county clerks by Tuesday.

Signatures from all 17 counties will have to be verified by county clerks. All three of the initiatives also face legal challenges, set to be heard by the state Supreme Court July 1.