3 Comments
Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Published Monday, July 14, 2008 | 4:11 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008 | 10:15 a.m.
Governor Jim Gibbons may be challenged as a chief executive but give him credit for knowing how to whack thousands from his own property tax bill. Gibbons, who is preparing for the day when the Vegas club scene, the Reno rodeo circuit and even IHOP lose their luster, picked up a pricey piece of retirement property last year in Elko County. The parcel could have cost the governor (and gained the state) $5,000 annually in property taxes. But in a flash of fiscal brilliance Gibbons realized (OK, someone probably told him) that he could avoid the tax bill AND earn money by letting cows graze his land. The Elko assessor, who initially turned down the request, says he felt pressured to approve it, especially when it was restated by Gibbons' attorney and Nevada Tax Commission member John Marvel.
Maybe the Elko assessor needs to learn to say no. Maybe the governor needs to stop throwing his weight around to get his way, which he eventually got. Regardless, the Associated Press reports the "proof" provided to the assessor consisted of the front sides of two checks supposedly tendered to pay Gibbons for the grazing rights.
We, like the Elko assessor, would like proof the checks were cashed. The governor's spokeman, after maligning the Elko assessor for questioning the governor's integrity, said he'd try to obtain copies of the cancelled checks but cautioned the governor's finances are personal.
We'll hear from the Elko assessor and hope to hear from attorney Marvel tomorrow about the governor's tax break. Of course, we'd like to hear from the governor, too.
IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM, JOIN 'EM!
LET'S TREAT THIS AS A "HOW TO LOWER YOUR TAXES" EDUCATION EXERCISE FROM GOVN'R JIM:
1) THREE FRIENDS OR NEIGHBORS ON YOUR 1/3 OR 1/2 OR 1 ACRE $575,000 "RETIREMENT HOME" LOTS START RAISING 2 AGRICULTURAL RABBITS.
2) NEIGHBOR 1 LEASES HIS "STUD BUNNY" TO NEIGHBOR 2 FOR AN ANNUAL $5,000 AGRICULTURAL "STUD FEE SERVICE" CHARGE.
3) NEIGHBOR 2 PROVIDES HIS AGRICULTURALLY IMPREGNATED "BLUE RIBBON BUNNY" TO NEIGHBOR 3 FOR A $5,000 LEASE FEE TO RAISE UNTIL "BANNER BABY BUNNIES" ARE BORN IN HIS "HONEY BUNNY SHED."
4) NEIGHBOR 3 NOW PROVIDES A COUPLE "LITTER BUNNIES" AND A $5,000 ANNUAL LEASE FEE FOR NEIGHBOR 1 TO RAISE NEWEST "HONEY BUNNIES" INTO FUTURE "STUD BUNNIES" AND "HAREM BUNNIES" THAT WILL BECOME "BLUE RIBBON BUNNIES."
5) ALL THREE NEIGHBORS NOW TAKE THEIR PROOF OF AGRICULTURAL USE AND PROOF OF $5,000 ANNUAL LEASE PAYMENT EARNINGS TO THEIR LOCAL TAX ASSESSOR.
6) TAX ASSESSOR SAYS THIS MEETS ALL THE GOVERNOR JIM PROPERTY TAX REQUIREMENTS AND ALL WILL BE TREATED EQUAL--$15.00 TAX ON $575,000 PROPERTY!
GOT IT??
REPEAT EVERY YEAR AS NEEDED.
WHAT WORKS FOR GOVN'R JIM, OUGHT TO WORK FOR YOU!
Start some new bumper stickers:
"RETAIN JIM GIBBONS---For the Belittlement of Nevada"
"MY GOVERNOR EMBARRASSES ME!"
"WE NEED TO KEEP NSP OPEN FOR TAX CHEATS"
"Save a Prison---Insert a Governor"
"I'll be Governor 'til the Cows Come Home!"
"Dawn, How Do I Look in Black and White Stripes?"
"I've Got Some Retirement Property in Elko--I think I'll Retire Now!"
"Get the Governor a New Wife, So He Doesn't Have to Cheat on His Taxes"
"WHERE'S MONICA LEWINSKY WHEN YOU NEED HER--IMPEACH THIS GOV!"
"WE'LL TRADE GOVN'R GIBBONS, FOR THE NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP; IT'S LESS HAZARDOUS TO OUR STATE"
"MCCAIN NEEDS A GOVN'R FOR VP--TAKE OURS!"
...I'm sure you can come up with better ones, but it's a start....
But Benihse - remember, though, he was holding the bunny's hand when she gave birth.
The prisons are full of people with less clever schemes than this. But it took a prosecutor - or in this case an AG - with gonads to prosecute such cases.
The Dem AG is giving the gubber a Get Out of Jail Free card on this one when prosecution could send into the Mansion in the next election.
DUH!~!