Assembly GOP leader wants alternative to Guinn plan

Erin Neff

Tuesday, March 4, 2003 | 9:07 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick has requested a budget alternative to Gov. Kenny Guinn's $1 billion tax proposal, focusing more on cutting programs or streamlining government than on raising taxes.

"We're looking at other things to do," said Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, who submitted a request for a bill draft Friday. "I'm not sure exactly what that's going to be yet, but it is to fund the state budget."

Hettrick said his proposal will include taxes, although it will take time to determine how much tax revenue will be needed to fund the budget under his proposal.

"The taxes should only be to the degree in which we need them," Hettrick said.

Hettrick said he could support increasing taxes on cigarettes, liquor, slot route operators and the gaming industry, although he said he is not yet sure if he will request increases to those taxes at the same rate Guinn will in his bill.

Guinn said Monday that he welcomes any input from legislators on how to fund the state budget.

But he cautioned that he has already made substantial cuts to state goverment and does not want additional cuts to hurt service in critical areas.

"If others can find room to make cuts, they should have that discussion," Guinn said. "I just don't think there's much more anyone can find that isn't essential."

Hettrick's bill draft request is designed as a placeholder while additional research is conducted on how much the bill will need to generate and how many cuts will be necessary.

Hettrick did not say Monday which cuts he envisioned making. In the past, he has said he supports evaluating privatization of the state motor pool and printing office.

He has also expressed concern about the state's funding of the Nevada State College at Henderson and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Dental School.

In addition to Hettrick's proposal, Sens. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, and Terry Care, D-Las Vegas, have a plan to fund the state budget.

Guinn's proposal is expected to be introduced to the Legislature today. It includes increasing the levies on cigarette, liquor, slot route, business activity, property and gaming as well instituting new taxes on business gross receipts and admissions or amusements.

The Nevada Task Force on Tax Policy, a committee of citizens appointed by the governor and legislative leaders, has an alternative to Guinn's plan using the same taxes but at different rates and implementation times.

The Amodei-Care proposal will include many of the same taxes, but will replace the gross receipts tax with increases in the room tax and a larger increase in the gaming tax.

Hettrick's proposal, Bill Draft Request 1308, was included in a list of bill draft requests made public Monday.