Senate rejects bid to kill recorder’s office

Tuesday, April 22, 2003 | 9:19 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- An effort by Clark County Manager Thom Reilly to eliminate the elective office of County Recorder Frances Deane when her term expires has failed.

The Senate defeated Senate Bill 80 by a 15-6 vote Monday. The bill would have merged the recorder's office into the county clerk's office when Deane's term expires in January 2007.

Reilly said SB80 was needed to streamline government in Clark County. In testimony to the Senate Government Affairs Committee, he called the recorder "an obscure office" that duplicates services.

But Deane told lawmakers the office was important and that improvements are being made to update the procedures the office uses.

In other action Monday:

Voters approved a $2.7 billion plan for improvements in last fall's election. It calls for more road construction, traffic signal coordination, more buses and a light rail plan.

Under the plan, the sales tax would be raised one-quarter of a percent to 7.5 percent; jet aviation fuel would be increased one cent a gallon; two cents of the property tax would be allocated for these projects; and there would be a higher development tax.

The bill, SB 444, ensures the state will not be liable for any future costs related to the park and that the name of the park will be maintained unless a change is approved by the Legislature.