Henderson: Parks tax hike proposed

Shaunta Grimes

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 1999 | 10:44 a.m.

The city of Henderson is proposing an increase in its residential construction tax to provide more money for developing and improving parks, following the lead of the county, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas.

The tax, a one-time fee paid by developers when they construct a new home, would go up 4 cents per square foot to 36 cents per square foot of livable space, Tracy Novak, Henderson parks superintendent, said.

On a 2,500-square-foot house that would raise the tax from $800 to $900.

The tax is capped at $1,000 per house, but no houses are exempt, Novak said.

The Henderson City Council is meeting at 7 tonight in the Council Chambers, 240 Water St., and is expected to vote on the increase.

Henderson has 27 parks, 16 of which were built by developers in lieu of paying the residential construction tax, Novak said. The city can use the money for improvement of any park that is less than 25 acres.

Only the Arroyo Grande Sports Park, a 60-acre park at Arroyo Grande Boulevard and Santiago Avenue, exceeds that limit. Sunset Park, which is in Henderson and is more than 100 acres, is run by the county, Novak said.

In fiscal year 1998-99 the city collected $1.6 million in residential construction tax money. The increase is expected to bring in an additional $200,000 in the first full fiscal year that it is in effect, Novak said.

The Clark County Board of Commissioners approved a similar tax increase on July 20. Las Vegas approved an increase on Sept. 3 and North Las Vegas OK'd the tax on Sept. 15.