Editorial: No tax money for light show upgrade

Friday, Nov. 29, 2002 | 4:02 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: Dec. 1, 2002

It was a reality check two weeks ago for Las Vegas City Council members when staff informed them of the potential cost of accepting a "gift" from the state. The gift -- Floyd Lamb State Park in northwest Las Vegas -- would cost an immediate $450,000 for repairs and $1 million a year for maintenance. The squirming was audible. Councilman Gary Reese said the city cannot even afford more marshals for the parks it has, say nothing about repairs and maintenance costs for a new park. "It's crunch time for the city as far as I'm concerned," Reese said, referring to its tight budget for parks and recreation.

We hope the council members hold onto that sentiment when they consider whether to ask the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to divert millions to the Fremont Street Experience. The money would come from a budget generated by room taxes, and the money from this source that goes to municipalities is normally invested in parks and recreation. The FSE wants to spend $16 million to make its light show above the pedestrian mall on Fremont Street even more glitzy than it already is -- and wants the city of Las Vegas to approve a plan for the LVCVA to pay $7 million toward the total cost.

The definition of the Fremont Street Experience as a park was debunked five years ago when security officials chased away a family group that tried to have a picnic there. And recreational programs funded by the city do not include the FSE's fare, which includes gambling, drinking and strip clubs. If the LVCVA provides the money, that's $7 million less for real park and recreational activities for the city. The city's contributions to the FSE and the neighboring Neonopolis shopping center already amount to $100 million. The downtown casinos, which collectively operate the FSE and profit from its attractions, should pay the entire cost of any upgrades.