Voters will be asked to dig deep

Adrienne Packer

Friday, June 7, 2002 | 11:13 a.m.

A recent poll showing a high percentage of voters support increased taxes to fund homeless services and improve roads should encourage proponents of advisory questions expected to appear on November's ballot.

But concerns have been raised over whether two Clark County-generated questions competing for money on the same ballot will bode well for either issue.

Toss in a $200 million state bond question, a proposed tax hike to fund the Henderson Library District, a state pitch to raise taxes and a soft economy, and tax experts wonder how voters might react.

"I don't know if I've seen that confluence of events in the roughly 30 years I've been tracking these tax issues," said Carole Vilardo, president of the Nevada Taxpayers Association.

"Historically voters have approved multiple tax questions, but I don't recall this certain circumstance."

Later this month Clark County commissioners are expected to vote in favor of placing advisory questions asking for a one-cent property tax increase to generate $4 million for its homeless trust fund. The increase amounts to $7 a year for a home worth $200,000.

The board will also consider placing a ballot question asking voters if they would support a 1/4-cent sales tax increase to help fund transportation projects.

"There is a concern if you have too many (tax questions), people start getting concerned about how many taxes they're voting for," said Jim Spinello, the county's assistant administrative director.

But Guy Hobbs, chairman of the Nevada Task Force on Tax Policy, said because state law requires that questions be considered only during general elections -- every two years -- those ballots are likely to become crowded with questions.

"It limits the ability to do it. Potentially a problem will exist in 'out' years and you need to identify a path of mitigation," Hobbs said. "That usually means more (ballot questions)."

The governor's task force on which Hobbs serves is reviewing how much money the state needs to raise to fund health care and education. It will present options on how to collect those funds, but most likely will propose tax increases.

The uncertainty of which taxes might be increased and by how much during the 2003 legislative session is one more concern that could lead voters to shoot down advisory questions.

"Contrary to popular belief, I firmly believe most of the information will be out in advance of the Sept. 15 deadline," Hobbs said of the task force's proposals. "The things we're talking about will be for the public's view."

Also coming from the state is a proposal to issue $200 million in general obligation bonds to preserve water quality, protect open space, lakes and rivers and revamp parks, recreation areas and cultural resources.

If the bond is issued while other state bonds are out, residents may face a property tax increase of up to 2.8 cents per $100 of assessed value to pay off the debt. The increase would amount to $19.60 for a $200,000 home.

Of the barrage of advisory questions, the two competing Clark County tax proposals might suffer most.

The results of a poll conducted last month by Downey Research Associates showed 44.5 percent of those polled said government should spend more on traffic improvements; 78 percent of that group said they would be willing to pay more taxes. When asked whether they would prefer to pay additional property taxes or sales taxes, residents opted overwhelmingly for higher sales taxes.

Also, in relation to the state bond question, 21 percent said government should spend more on parks and recreation; of those, 90 percent said they would approve higher taxes.

Downey Research, which was hired by political strategist Terry Murphy's new business, The Insighter, surveyed 555 Clark County registered voters.

Traditionally voters have been more apt to vote for transportation projects over social issues like the homeless problem, but Murphy said she has witnessed an increased interest in homelessness.

When residents were asked to list, off the top of their heads, critical issues that face the Las Vegas Valley, 1.1 percent named homelessness in February. When the same question was posed last month, 2.2 percent answered homeless services.

Thirty-five percent said government should help more with homeless services; of those, 85 percent would agree to increased taxes.

Murphy said transportation concerns are always one of the top three issues listed.

"If people understand the questions and if they feel services are needed in both areas, they probably will vote for both," Murphy said.