Editorial: ‘Sauce for the goose …’

Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2003 | 8:50 a.m.

Taxes based on the value of property are a main source of revenue for local governments. They help fund firefighting, schools, police, transportation, health care and other services. A major benefit is their stability. Many taxes, such as sales and room taxes, can fluctuate from year to year. But property value generally remains stable and generates taxes that governments can depend on when building their budgets.

It's different with federal land, however. Although the use of federal land can be intensive, local governments receive "payments in lieu of taxes," which are lower than property taxes. Nevertheless, they should be a reliable source of income for local governments, especially in states such as Nevada where the federal government is the predominant landowner. Yet it's never known from year to year how much money Congress will allocate. Congress may approve one amount but allocate another, lesser, amount. We agree with the Western Governors Association, which says it should be mandatory for Congress to pay the full authorized amount each year. Downward flexibility is not an option for private landowners when it comes to paying their taxes, and it shouldn't be an option for the federal government.

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