Wednesday, April 10, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
Taxes can be a bitter pill for voters to swallow.
Knowing that, a coalition seeking public money to construct new jail, courtroom and juvenile detention facilities has combined three ingredients they hope will make the medicine go down: message, money and muscle.
At risk is a $120 million bond question on the Sept. 3 ballot -- Question 1 -- to help finance construction of the facilities.
The task of delivering a winning message has fallen to R&R Advertising, whose president, Billy Vassiliadis, says voters have gotten touchy about ballot questions dealing with taxes.
In June 1993, Clark County voters overwhelmingly defeated four proposals intended to fight crime, including property tax hikes to add officers and jail space.
"Taxpayers have become ballot weary," said Vassiliadis, who has run local and statewide political campaigns.
He hopes to combat anti-tax sentiment by bombarding Southern Nevadans with an easily understood message: "Yes On 1. Fight Crime. Fight Criminals."
In addition to the anti-crime message, Vassiliadis is relying on another crowd pleaser: Taxes won't go up.
"Question 1 is tax neutral," Vassiliadis said.
In effect, Question 1 would prevent homeowners from receiving a larger property tax rebate. Failure of Question 1 would save the owner of a $100,000 home $14 a year. Approval would save $2.45.
Vassiliadis also expects timing to play a role. Question 1 so far is the only item on the September primary ballot, while several state and local tax measures, including Clark County proposals for additional police and schools, are expected to face voters in the Nov. 5 general election.
The trade-off could be that primary elections attract small numbers of ardent partisan voters who tend to be anti-government, Vassiliadis said.
The muscle needed to raise money for the pro-Question 1 message is being delivered by Las Vegas businessman Kenny Guinn, a Republican gubernatorial candidate in 1998.
Guinn expects to raise up to $350,000 in support of Question 1. Among those assisting with fund-raising are attorney Joe Brown, a former Republican lieutenant gubernatorial candidate, and former County Commissioner Thalia Dondero.
Guinn said the group has raised about $100,000 in $5,000 and $10,000 increments from companies such as the Boyd Gaming Group, Circus Circus, Southwest Gas and Nevada Power.
A coalition of law enforcement and justice officials, including Sheriff Jerry Keller, District Attorney Stewart Bell and District Judge Nancy Becker, have pledged to campaign in support of Question 1. R&R Advertising handled election campaigns for Keller and Bell.
archive
