No property tax increase expected

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, May 16, 2000 | 11:11 a.m.

Clark County's tax revenues might have slowed down in the last two years, but commissioners are still pleased with an 8.7 percent increase this year and agreed Monday there is no need to bump up taxes.

"There is no need to increase the general property tax rates so we're holding steady, which is kind of amazing," Commissioner Myrna Williams said at Monday's special budget hearing.

Tax revenues had grown by 15 percent two years ago with the influx of megaresorts on the Las Vegas Strip. But construction has quieted and so have the revenues.

Clark County, however, continues to grow at a steady pace, prompting board members to agree to spend $16 million to bolster its staff by 290 employees over the next fiscal year.

The bulk of the funds, about $11 million, will go toward staffing the county's new detention center with 225 employees.

Clark County Finance Director George Stevens said that for the last few years the county has put money aside for the new detention center. However, this fiscal year is the most the county will ever sink into the facility, which is scheduled to open in May 2001.

"In my 15 years with Clark County, I can't recall allocating $11 million in the supplemental budget to one function," Stevens said. "It's the biggest chunk of money given to one single department at one time." The number of new positions dedicated to the detention center allows the county to grant only a fraction of its other departments' requests for more employees.

Two divisions that were frustrated by the lack of new employees approved in last year's fiscal plan, were somewhat appeased this year.

Commissioners agreed to spend $1.1 million on 12 new positions in the Fire Department to help staff a new station in the southwest. And the Parks and Recreation Department, which must staff maintenance crews for new parks and employees for recreation facilities, will receive 11 new employees.

The county's overall spending budget is $2.9 billion for fiscal year 2001.

Budgeted revenues for the fiscal year amount to $686 million, with more than half coming from property taxes and intergovernmental revenue -- money transferred in from other government entities.

The county's expenditures are expected to be about $628 million, most of which will be absorbed by public safety, the detention center and general government.

While Stevens said overall the county looks "fine," he added that officials will not embark on the number of capital projects that they have in the past.

"The economy is doing well, but we haven't seen enough growth to take on more capital responsibilities," said Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates.

Commissioners also expressed concerns over Gov. Kenny Guinn's proposal to transfer some state responsibilities to local governments without providing the funding. Commissioner Myrna Williams said if duties are transferred, the county should ask for state and federal funding to accompany them.

The board also warned administrators to be leery of Indian casinos in California which could steal business from Las Vegas.

Stevens said the threat is more to future revenues rather than current revenues.

"You hear a lot of people theorize that Las Vegas is an international gaming destination so it will be less affected than other parts of Nevada," Stevens said. "But that's not to say we won't see impacts."

Adrienne Packer

covers county government for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-2310 or by e-mail at adrienne@lasvegassun.com