NLV mayor says boost casino tax

Jeff Schweers and Larry Henry

Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998 | 10:04 a.m.

North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon Wednesday said he supports raising casino taxes.

"If we increased the (gaming gross revenue) tax by one penny it would still be the lowest in the nation," Montandon said during a taping of "Nevada Week in Review," which airs on KLVX Channel 10 at 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Sunday.

Montandon is the latest official to say casinos can afford to pay more for growth.

State Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, who is running for governor, said he'll push for a 2 percent increase in the gaming gross revenue tax.

And this week, Gaming Control Board Chairman Bill Bible said he is "impressed" with the contribution Atlantic City casinos make toward roads, schools, parks and other growth needs.

While Bible didn't advocate a tax increase in Nevada, some interpreted his comment to mean Nevada casinos should pay more.

Nevada casinos pay a nation-low 6.25 percent on gaming gross revenues, while New Jersey casinos pay 9.5 percent. Casinos in other states pay 20 percent or more.

Casino lobbyist Harvey Whittemore said he doesn't think momentum is building for a casino tax increase in Nevada.

"I don't think anything is building," Whittemore said. "We are going to prepare documents showing that we pay our fair share."

But during the same Channel 10 taping Wednesday, Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson said he too would support an increase in the gaming tax "if it wouldn't injure businesses."

Montandon and Gibson serve on the 21-member Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority, which is to recommend growth solutions to the next Legislature in 1999.

Also on the television show, Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, said the casino tax probably will come under review at the 1999 session. The Legislature last voted to raise the gaming gross revenue tax in 1987.

"It's long overdue," Giunchigliani said.

Giunchigliani said the Legislature will consider raising mining taxes and other revenue sources, too.

"Can gaming pay? Yes," she said. "Should they? Not without these others on the table."

County Commission Chairwoman Yvonne Atkinson Gates, who sits on the planning authority with Montandon and Gibson, said she supports putting the gaming tax on the table for discussion.

"We should always leave our options open and consider everything," Gates said.

In addition, a coalition of senior citizens has vowed to circulate an initiative petition to put a casino tax hike on the 1998 ballot.