Officials show solidarity against legislation

Diana Sahagun and Adrienne Packer

Friday, May 4, 2001 | 10:44 a.m.

In a move to express solidarity, elected officials from Clark County and its three cities gathered Thursday to protest a bill that would strip Southern Nevada governments of $65 million over two years.

Elected officials from Henderson, North Las Vegas and Clark County flanked Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman during his weekly news conference to emphasize the dire impact Assembly Bill 457 would have on government services. The group also made a plea to leaders in Carson City to work with Southern Nevada officials so they can come to a resolution.

The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas, would require each government to forfeit its share of the state's motor vehicle privilege tax for two years to fund a statewide 2 percent raise for teachers.

"Our quality of life is being threatened," Goodman said. "We have all come together to show unity and force."

The Assembly bill, combined with a second bill -- AB653 -- could pose serious budget shortfalls for Clark County and Las Vegas.

AB653 would change the state's consolidated tax distribution formula, forcing Las Vegas and Clark County to pitch in $2 million apiece for three years to assist Henderson. The shift would cost Las Vegas about $16 million and Clark County about $5 million.

Clark County Commission Chairman Dario Herrera said in anticipation of the bills being passed, positions are already being limited. Motor vehicle taxes feed into each government's general fund, which is used for public safety and social services.

Herrera said Metro Police was budgeted for 50 new officers, half of what it requested. If both bills passed, the city and county might not be able to afford any new officers.

All but two Nevada counties wiggled their way out of the motor vehicle tax bill after legislators in the northern end of the state agreed to approve the bill if their counties were exempt.

Thursday's unified pitch appeared too late because only Washoe and Clark counties are included in the bill.

Elected officials said they never expected the bill in its current form and therefore never put up a fight. They were told the bill draft request would be amended as it made its way through committees. As they watched the bill remain intact, they began to panic.

"We will do whatever is necessary to make sure our citizens will not be hurt as a result of this legislation," Goodman said.

Although Goodman said he was not trying to create a panic, he painted a dreary picture of the consequences if AB457 passes -- not enough money for public safety, social services and other items that affect the quality of life for all citizens.

"Of course teachers need adequate funding," he said. "But they can't be paid at the expense of taking away police and public safety needs."

Las Vegas stands to lose $19 million by 2003 if AB457 passes. City officials say it would cause a reduction of $5 million in police services, $4 million in fire services, $1.5 million in park rangers and more.

North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon said his city stands to lose millions as well.

"We're working together ... we want to work on these issues," Montandon said. "But we can't do it alone. Everyone has to be at the table."

The appearance of solidarity waned toward the end of the press conference when Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson was asked about the consolidated tax distribution shift -- which his city desperately wants and the other elected officials adamantly oppose.

Although the bill would take money from Las Vegas and North Las Vegas and give it to Henderson, Gibson said the issue is more about being fair. Gibson said Henderson got the short end of the stick when the consolidated tax formula was established in 1997.

"We've had a growing disparity since that time," Gibson said.