Assembly approves higher taxes to cover infrastructure costs

Friday, May 16, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

AB291 moves to the Senate for final legislative action without an amendment to require a public vote. The rejection of that amendment earlier in the week was one of the main reasons for the "no" votes.

But proponents of the bill say it has many safeguards, including one requiring review of the sales taxes every 10 years and another requiring public hearings before county commissioners may vote on the taxes.

The measure also requires a two-thirds vote of a county's commissioners before a sales tax can be levied. It also requires public hearings before tax revenues are doled out to various projects.

AB291 began as a measure to help finance a $3 billion pipeline project in Las Vegas, but was expanded to allow all Nevada counties to hike sales taxes to pay for flood control, landfill and other needs.

Southern Nevada casinos heavily favor the bill because it would pay for Las Vegas's booming growth needs with sales tax money instead of increased gambling taxes.

Assemblywoman Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, had pushed for the public vote provision, calling those who don't support it pawns of casinos and other special interests.

But Assemblyman David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas, angrily rejected Tiffany's charge, saying voters invest lawmakers with the power to make such decisions. Goldwater chairs the Assembly Infrastructure Committee, which passed AB291 earlier.