Voters to be asked to OK funding requests

Monday, June 3, 2002 | 9:26 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Nevadans will be voting this fall on such issues as spending $200 million to preserve the outdoors, tax exemptions and money to build schools.

The Legislative Commission Friday put the finishing touches on ballot language that will present the arguments for and against each of the ballot questions.

The 2001 Legislature enacted a bill asking the voters to decide whether to spend $200 million to preserve water quality, protect open space, lakes, rivers, wetlands and wildlife habitat.

The money would also be used to restore and improve parks, recreational areas and historic and cultural resources.

Of the $200 million, $25 million would be used to plan and develop the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, $10 million to develop a regional wetlands park at Las Vegas Wash and $35 million to establish a state museum at Las Vegas Springs.

If the state issued the full $200 million in bonds, it would raise the property tax rate by 2.8 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. That would be an annual increase of about $19 on a $200,000 home.

Two ballot questions call for tax exemption. One would exempt the sale of farm machinery and equipment from the state's 2 percent sales tax.

The other provides an exemption from the sales tax on engines and chassis of professional racing vehicles bought in Nevada.

Voters will decide on a proposed constitutional amendment to allow the state to borrow more money for building or improving the public schools. At present local school districts issue bonds for construction and improvement of the facilities.

The state under the present law is limited to borrowing up to 2 percent of the all assessed value.

The ballot question would permit the state to borrow money for school improvements but it would not count against the 2 percent limit.

The present constitutional limit does not apply to money borrowed to meet its public defense needs or to preserve natural resources.

Minor changes in the language on the pros and cons on several of the ballot questions were approved by the commission and will be submitted to the secretary of state's office for inclusion on the November ballot.