Tax initiative would benefit Henderson emergency workers

Monday, Oct. 30, 2000 | 4:03 a.m.

Henderson voters will decide Nov. 7 whether to approve the city's largest-ever increase in its number of police officers, firefighters and paramedics.

The tax initiative seeks to add 166 police officers over the next seven years and 30 firefighters and paramedics and 41 public safety support staff members.

The additional police officers would be a 78 percent increase in the department of 212 sworn officers.

Voters must decide whether they're willing to increase the city's property tax rate by 24 cents per $100 assessed value to pay for the measure.

Approval of the measure would add $84 to the tax bill of a $100,000 home.

With the city having nearly quadrupled in population since 1988 when voters were last asked to approve major public safety funding, the department can't provide the kind of service as in the past, Henderson Police Chief Mike Mayberry said.

Henderson Fire Chief Joe Hill said his department has a response time of about 5 1/2 minutes for emergency calls - more than two minutes under that of the Las Vegas Fire Department - but with expanding boundaries and a rising number of medical calls, he fears the department's response times will jump.

If approved, Henderson's property tax rate would increase from 71.08 cents to 95.08 per $100 of assessed value.