Boost in fees approved

Tuesday, May 20, 2003 | 9:38 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A diverse group that includes welfare mothers, sportsmen and real estate officials is likely to play a small but important part in balancing Gov. Kenny Guinn's $4.8 billion two-year budget.

The budget committees of both the Senate and the Assembly are passing a number of bills that impose fees on a variety of professions and groups to help pay the cost of running government.

The Legislature is still trying to hash out a tax plan to raise anywhere from $700 million to $1 billion to keep the state from falling into the red. But the fee increases already have been included in the budget.

The Senate Finance Committee on Monday approved Senate Bill 420 to boost the license fees for hunters and fishermen to support the state Division of Wildlife. A fishing license for residents would go from $20 to $25 and the hunting permit would rise from $23 to $29.

A non-resident fishing license would rise from $50 to $63 and non-resident hunting license would go from $110 to $138.

There will also be a new $3 fee on every license to protect wildlife habitats. These fees won't go into effect until March 2004. The division issues about 250,000 licenses a year.

Low-income mothers who are enrolled in the state's child-care program are expected to be charged a new fee in the coming fiscal year. The state Welfare Division will conduct a public hearing on June 18 before deciding whether to adopt the change, but the hearing appears to be little more than a formality because both budget committees already have included the revenue from the fees in the division's budget.

For a family of three with an income of $1,253 a month, the mother would be required to pay an average of $11 per child per month for those enrolled in child care.

To help run the state Real Estate Division, there are license increases in Senate Bill 428, which is awaiting approval in the Assembly. For instance, the cost of an initial real estate broker's license rises to $105 from $85 and the salesman's license goes to $85 from $65.

Renewal of the broker's license rises from to $180 from $170 and the fee for renewal of a real estate salesman's license increases to $140 from $130.

Working poor parents will be charged more for enrolling their children in the low-cost health insurance program called Nevada Check-Up. Their fees will rise anywhere from $5 to $20 a month depending on their income. There are about 25,000 children in the program.

Those convicted in justice or municipal courts will be hit with an additional $15 fee. Of that increase, $5 would finance the specialty courts such as drug, mental health or business. The other $10 is split between the courts and the state, which will shuttle its proceeds to law enforcement programs.