Douglas County tax hike gets Assembly backing

Friday, March 12, 1999 | 2:13 a.m.

County voters endorsed the tax hike by a 2-to-1 margin in the last election.

Backers promoted it as a tax for "PALS," named after the parks, airport, library and seniors that would benefit from the increase.

Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, said the extra quarter cent would raise about $1 million a year.

He told the Assembly the sales tax boost is needed to help replace room-tax revenues that were ordered dedicated to tourist and marketing programs in the Tahoe portions of Douglas County.

Two years ago, the Legislature ordered that room-tax money shifted back to the Tahoe Basin where most of it is generated.

The sales tax increase was approved by the Assembly Thursday and sent to the Senate, along with an amendment that would allow the Department of Taxation to begin collecting it July 1 instead of waiting until the end of the year.

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