Boulder City council revokes tax hike

Greg Harman

Wednesday, May 31, 2000 | 10:57 a.m.

A one-penny tax increase that slipped under the radar of some Boulder City Council members was revoked this morning in a special meeting.

"If the city doesn't need the money, we shouldn't be taking it from our citizens," Councilman Bryan Nix said after the unanimous vote.

The council had approved a boost that took the tax from 20.22 cents per $100 property valuation this year to 21.15 cents per $100 for fiscal 2001.

Finance Director Bob Kenney said the increase was intended to offset a $35,000 loss the city suffered as a result of the 1981 property-tax reform that set statewide rates back $1.15 per $100 valuation.

Kenney apologized for not telling the council about the tax increase during recent budget hearings.

"The property tax should be a regular part of the budget package," Kenney said. "It was an oversight this year, and it won't happen again."

Councilman Bill Smith, who requested the meeting after learning of the tax increase approved by the council two weeks ago by reading the newspaper, said that while the information was available at recent meetings, he didn't understand it.

"We probably -- at least speaking from my point of view -- didn't understand it," Smith said.

The city tax rate will remain at this year's rate of 20.22 cents per $100 property valuation. That comes to about $70 per year on a $100,000 house.

Live chat: Tuesday, noon PST; Chat with Krista Creelman; Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question