Tax hike for water improvements may finally be decided after hearing

Adrienne Packer

Friday, Dec. 11, 1998 | 11:37 a.m.

A proposed quarter-cent hike in sales tax that has been on the minds of Clark County residents for a year may finally be settled Tuesday after a public hearing in the County Commission chambers.

The new ordinance, which would increase the sales tax to 7.25 percent, was introduced during a Nov. 17 County Commission meeting after it was overwhelmingly approved during the general election.

The bump in sales tax is expected to raise $3 billion to increase the valley's water system capacity and pay for new pipes and pumps.

It was more than a year ago when the quarter-cent sales tax was first proposed.

A group of businesses that called itself "Nevadans for Solutions" spent $40,000 on advertising to encourage Clark County residents to support the increase. The Southern Nevada Water Authority sent out a quarter-million fliers to its customers in an attempt to address concerns.

When it came time to vote for the tax hike last November, Clark County commissioners wavered. Four voted for the increase and three rejected it. State law requires that the commission have a five-vote supermajority.

Commissioners Lorraine Hunt and Erin Kenny, who voted against the sales tax increase, said they wanted voters to make a decision. The commission then voted 5-2 to put it on the Nov. 3 ballot as an advisory issue.

Because the proposed tax increase was approved by 72 percent of the county's voters during the general election, commissioners have indicated that they too will support the hike.

Yet to address commissioners are the proponents and opponents of the long-debated issue. Those who support it have argued it is the fairest way to pay for improvements. People oppose argue that new growth should pay for water improvements through higher residential and commercial hookup fees.

How the system improvements are funded should be known by the conclusion of Tuesday's 9 a.m. meeting.