Council attacks unfriendly bills in Legislature

Thursday, March 20, 2003 | 8:41 a.m.

Several members of the Las Vegas City Council chastised the Legislature for introducing bills that they said would negatively affect the city.

The most significant was Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio's bill introduced Monday that would give the state a bigger share of future property tax revenue.

Mayor Oscar Goodman said he would make sure voters knew who supported such a bill if it were to pass. Goodman said he would even use any leftover money from his campaign to try to make sure those legislators weren't elected.

"If we have a little left over in my pot, and my popularity is what they say it is, then I'll use it to make sure everyone against us is not re-elected," Goodman said. "This council has been as fiscally responsible as any council could be. We should not be punished because we have been prudent."

In addition to the Raggio bill, Deputy City Manager Betsy Fretwell informed the council of several other bills that would affect the city.

"They are trying to do a hatchet job on our funding," Councilman Michael McDonald said. "Even with redevelopment they want us to have more restraint and handcuff us more."

One of the bills in question, introduced in the Senate, would affect growth regulations. It could hamper the city from making amendments to master plans or zoning regulations.

Another bill, introduced in the Assembly, would prohibit the city, under certain circumstances, from approving certain land use permits.