Letter: Gamers could afford tax hike

Thursday, April 26, 2001 | 9:04 a.m.

I, like most Southern Nevada residents, am very concerned about the serious lack of funding for public education in Nevada. As Clark County School District Superintendent Carlos Garcia told two Nevada legislative committees on March 15, Nevada's largest -- and still one of the nation's fastest growing school districts -- is in need of major funding increases for next year just to fund current programs at the present levels.

As Garcia noted, the school district has already cut its current budget by several million dollars, and is now at a "bare-bones status." Without major increased funding by this Legislature, next year the school district will have to start cutting athletic, music and fine arts programs, and possibly even transportation.

That is why a significant majority of Clark County educators, parents and valley residents would now favor a 2 percent increase in the Nevada gaming tax, from 6.25 percent to 8.25 percent, to provide increased funding for public education in Nevada. There is almost no one who would argue that major casino properties cannot easily absorb this modest increase and still make a good profit.

So if a similar bill has not already been introduced, the Senate and Assembly revenue-related committees need to introduce such legislation, and all Southern Nevada legislators need to support it. Truly the welfare of our children, our community and even our state hang in the balance. Do the right thing.

WILLIAM E. FISHER