Cities challenge population count

Monday, Dec. 30, 2002 | 11:13 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- State Demographer Jeff Hardcastle says he hopes to reach an agreement with Clark County and four cities in Southern Nevada on estimates of their populations, which they have challenged as too low.

Local governments receive some of their tax revenues based on population, so each city and county wants to make sure it gets the highest count possible.

Clark County, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Boulder City and Henderson have all submitted appeals on Hardcastle's preliminary estimates of their numbers. Appeals have also come from Churchill County, Wells, Humboldt County and Winnemucca.

Hardcastle estimates the Clark County population at 1,541,395 as of June 30, or 53,549 lower than the county's estimate. That gave the county a 3.7 percent growth rate.

The demographer put Las Vegas at 508,109, compared with the local government's estimate of 520,936.

"There are a couple of concerns," Assistant County Manager Rick Holmes said this morning. "One of the most strenuous disputes is between the state and city of Las Vegas. We are hoping that any adjustments the state will make don't shift from within Clark County, and just make for a larger total for Southern Nevada. There is also a major dispute in the methodology used by the state."

The reason for the differences, Hardcastle said, is different methods used in estimating populations. For instance, he said, the city of Las Vegas used last year's figures in estimating the vacancy rate in homes and apartments. The demographer said he used the more current figures for this year.

The county based its estimates on the number of housing units identified, occupancy rates and census data, Holmes said.

"There are good reasons to work through the numbers together and reach an agreement." Holmes said.

The appeals from Northern Nevada have presented specific figures to back up their appeals, Hardcastle said. The Southern Nevada governments, he said, have not submitted evidence to support their claims.

"Additional meetings have been set up this week so we can present a stronger case," Holmes said.

If there is no resolution, the issue goes to an administrative hearing in the state Department of Taxation. An appeal from that ruling can be made to the state Tax Commission.