Increased smog-test fee would fund air-quality program

Thursday, May 10, 2001 | 8:31 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Southern Nevada motorists will likely face a $6 increase this summer in smog-check fees to finance an air-quality program.

Helen Foley, a lobbyist for the Air Quality Division of the Clark County Health District, told the Assembly Natural Resources, Agriculture and Mining Committee that it is "critically important" for the Legislature to approve the fee to avoid the federal government imposing sanctions on Southern Nevada.

Senate Bill 357 would permit the Clark County Commission to levy the fee of up to $6 on the 759,000 smog checks a year.

Phil Rosenquist, assistant director of Comprehensive Planning for Clark County, said the money would finance a five-year program to bring the county into compliance with federal standards. If the county fails, it faces sanctions and possible takeover of the program by the federal government.

Possible sanctions include a loss by the state of up to $171 million a year in federal highway construction funds and an $80 million to $90 million loss in Southern Nevada. Growth of the Las Vegas area could be stopped because there would be a ban on expansion of wastewater treatment plants.

A vote on the bill is set for Wednesday.

If the proposal, Senate Bill 533, is passed, it would be up to the County Commission to impose the fee.

Foley said commissioners favor increasing the fee to start funding new agency and tightening air-quality regulations.

The fee would "sunset" or automatically expire in 2009, unless the Legislature renews it.

Assemblyman David Humke, R-Reno, suggested that was a long time. And he added, "Sunsets don't mean anything."

He said he has never seen a tax law that would supposed to automatically expire actually go away.