Lawmaker Proposes Name Change for Clark County: Vegas County

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Under their rules, legislators don't have to identify themselves as sponsors of bills until actually introducing them during legislative sessions. The Legislature opens Jan. 20.

If the Las Vegas County bill is introduced, it could stir up the feud that already exists between Las Vegas and Clark County officials.

Las Vegas leaders are questioning why city property tax rates are higher than rates in surrounding urban Clark County.

"The bill sounds silly, but it really is symptomatic of the battle between the city and county," said Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas - who added she isn't the sponsor of the bill.

Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones chuckled about the bill.

"They are trying to solve our problems, right?" Jones asked. "Ask anyone who has been married if changing their name makes any difference."

Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates pointed out Clark County covers 8,000 square miles and encompasses five different cities.

"It is not just Las Vegas," Gates said. "We are trying to educate people between the city and county. A Las Vegas County only would make it more confusing."

Clark County was created in 1908 when residents of the southern part of the state successfully petitioned the Legislature to allow them to break away from Lincoln County.

The county was named after Sen. William A. Clark of Montana, who owned the railroad that connected Las Vegas with the outside world in 1905.

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