County forces joint hearing on DMV tax bill

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, May 16, 2001 | 10:31 a.m.

Clark County commissioners have forced a joint public hearing with Las Vegas City Council members after submitting four letters requesting the meeting, a move that overrides the wishes of chairman Dario Herrera.

Although she won't be present during Monday's hearing, Commissioner Mary Kincaid provided a fourth signature, which is needed to open discussion regarding a controversial bill that would shift Clark County's share of state motor vehicle privilege taxes to schools.

The hearing, called to inform the public about the effect the bill would have on government services, is scheduled Monday, after the commission's special budget hearing at the Clark County Government Center.

The fourth letter of support came after Thursday's scheduled public hearing was canceled.

Herrera declined to approve the meeting, saying state legislators already know local officials' opinion of the bill. To publicly speak against it could upset lawmakers who have control over other measures that affect Southern Nevada, he said.

"My opinion is we weren't going to criticize legislators. We want people to know what kind of impact the bill will have on constituents," said Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates, who pushed for the meeting. "It's purely informational."

Though city and county officials' long-awaited meeting has finally been scheduled, questions about the momentum of the Assembly bill -- co-sponsored by Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas and David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas -- remain.

The bill, intended to take control of motor vehicle taxes for two years to supply Nevada teachers with a 2 percent raise, is sputtering, said some lawmakers.

Instead, legislators are taking a closer look at a proposal by Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas.

James is suggesting companies that incorporate in Nevada pay an annual filing fee of $500. He estimates corporations that file with the Secretary of State and pay the fee will bring in about $65 million annually.

The fee is minimal, he said. The state of Delaware charges corporations $150,000 a year.

James said Nevada is one of the top states in the country in which to incorporate based on its lenient tax requirements and up-to-date corporate laws that make it easier to conduct transactions, mergers and acquisitions.

Many of the companies that incorporate in Nevada don't hire residents.

"It's a modest step that raises a tremendous amount of money ... ," James said.

"I don't think it's a Band-Aid. It's an expanding source of revenue for our state. Is it the only solution to the budget issues? No, but it's an appropriate one to take right now."

Atkinson Gates called James' bill a more "sensible approach."

"I think that is the logical way to handle things," she said. "I give him credit for coming up with viable alternatives that don't take money from local government."

Herrera, who earlier this week went against other elected officials in Southern Nevada to say it would be difficult to oppose the Beers-Goldwater bill, said he too favors James' proposal.

"I would support a new revenue source and ... one that doesn't tax the people of Clark County in particular and Nevada in general," Herrera said.