Editorial: Tax equality plan now up to the voter

Friday, March 14, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

WE suspect potholes may lie ahead on the road to property tax equalization, now that the issue finally has been brought into the light of day.

City and county officials have been dickering in secret meetings over how to bring Las Vegas residents' tax rates down to rough parity with county rates. What they came up with is a sleight-of-hand shift of funding on both sides that will please city residents. Whether county residents will buy it is another matter.

What county officials hope is the growing tax base will prevent tax increases to fund the Metro Police budget. If that occurs, the two groups may elude much of the criticism.

But secret meetings are anathema to good government, especially on sensitive issues such as property taxes. If tax hikes are needed in the county, don't be surprised if property owners wonder out loud what kind of skulduggery went on behind closed doors.

Unfortunately -- as we have said for years -- there is little, if any distinction between city and county services, which reinforces the argument that city residents should be paying the same rates as their county counterparts.

No reasonable person disputes tax rates should be close. In fact, this newspaper for years has gone further, advocating consolidation of the two governments to eliminate duplication and administrative costs. That would save even more money.

If this agreement is approved, city residents could see some relief by 2001; up to $100 in tax savings on a $100,000 home. That would be accomplished with $5 million from the city coffers, $8 million from merging Justice and Municipal courts and $2.6 million from the county. The county's increased load in funding Metro and how to pay for city services in county islands inside Las Vegas are still sticking points.

Much of this problem could be solved by dragging the two governments into the 21st century. Separate county and county agencies are wasteful. The County Commission and City Council waste much of their time bickering over who will get the biggest share of the tax pie.

That doesn't serve the voters. Only a single, efficient government will.