Teachers union, business leaders debate tax plan

Terry Webster

Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000 | 10:29 a.m.

A proposed business tax and questions of how to hold educators accountable Monday led to a lively debate between leaders of the Clark County Education Association and a group representing businesspeople who oppose the tax.

"We've all agree that at some point, we need more money to fund education," said Mark Shaffer, "Point of View Vegas" host, during his interview with teachers union President Sue Strand and Kami Dempsey, executive director of the Nevada Pro-Education Alliance and a Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce employee.

"But where is it going to come from?" Shaffer asked.

According to the teachers union, the money should come from a plan for a 4 percent business profits tax.

The plan would raise around $250 million per year for schools statewide. Additionally, it would require at least half of the state general fund to go toward public education.

Dempsey said the tax could impact businesses to the point where it causes fewer jobs and reduced employee benefits.

Strand argued that more state education funding is needed. She called the lack of funding an indication that the state, lawmakers and business leaders don't want to support education.

Dempsey countered that the tax plan is "just a way to get across-the-board salary increases." She supports performance-based pay for teachers, instead. Dempsey said the current proposal does not provide accountability.

"Everyone knows we need more teachers and more buildings, because nobody is stopping growth here," Strand said. "We've got schools sitting with 29 and 30 portables on their playgrounds to try to house students moving into these areas. This is insane."

In turn, Dempsey pointed out that businesses fund and support many different education programs.

Strand said it is difficult to boost school performance when good teachers move out of the district for higher pay. She pointed out that starting teacher salaries in the Clark County School District are $26,000 a year. In California, she said, teachers start at $35,000.

"That's nuts," Strand said of the salary gap.

Dempsey said that next to teachers, nobody cares about education more than businesspeople and parents.

"Every businessperson is a parent," she said.

Strand disagreed.

"Every businessperson is a citizen," Strand said. "And citizens are the people who should care about this, not just because they are parents and have kids. It is the citizens of the state of Nevada who have to care about how schools are funded here."

A coalition of business leaders throughout the state have filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block the initiative petition. The lawsuit is aimed at preventing the plan from coming before the 2001 Legislature.

If it comes before the Legislature and is rejected, the plan will be brought before voters in 2002.