Voters to have say on sales tax increase

Wednesday, June 2, 2004 | 11:03 a.m.

The Clark County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to forward to the voters an advisory question that would raise sales taxes to pay for more police throughout Clark County.

The advisory question is backed by Sheriff Bill Young. He told the commission that in his 26 years with the Metropolitan Police Department that serves Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County, the department has never reached a longstanding goal of two police officers for 1,000 population. The ratio is now 1.69 officers per 1,000 people, "and trending backwards," he said.

He said the lack of police officers is contributing to a crime rate that grew by 12 percent in 2002, 13 percent in 2003, and appears to be heading up again this year.

"Year after year of double-digit crime rate increases do not play well for a county such as ours," Young said, tying the crime rates to the local tourist-based economy. "The only antidote to a rising crime rate is a police officer on the street stopping crime."

He argued that the sales tax would be fairer to the community than a property tax increase -- an avenue difficult in any case because of state restrictions preventing significant property tax increases in North Las Vegas and parts of unincorporated Clark County.

About one-third of Clark County's sales taxes are generated by visiting tourists, Young said.

The issue now goes to the voters on the November ballot. Two teams will write the arguments, one for and the other against the advisory question.

If it passes, the Legislature could take up the issue early next year.

Many of the details, such as how the money would be distributed among the county's police departments, including the departments in the cities, would have to be decided by the legislators, who are under no obligation to support the measure even if it wins the popular vote.

The sales tax increase on the advisory ballot would amount to a quarter-cent on a dollar purchase for the first four years, then a total of a half-cent over the next 21 years, when it would expire.

Commissioner Lynette Boggs McDonald, who was the sole member of the Metro fiscal affairs committee to vote against sending the issue to the county commission for action, supported the sheriff's request.

Although Democrats criticized Boggs McDonald, a Republican, for her vote, she said she voted against it earlier because of unanswered questions about how the money would be distributed and concerns about the stability of sales taxes as a revenue source.

"I don't want to see us shortchanged," she said.

Clark County Finance Director George Stevens said the way to avoid stability problems is to conservatively fund police with the revenue, and the issue of distribution would have to be decided by the Legislature, if it chooses to pass the sales tax increase.

Commissioner Bruce Woodbury noted that the issue had support beyond Metro's jurisdiction.

"We should allow him (Young) and the police chiefs of this community to take the case to the people," Woodbury said.

Commissioners Yvonne Atkinson Gates, Mary Kincaid-Chauncey and Commission Chairman Chip Maxfield said they not only supported bringing the issue to the public but endorsed a "yes" vote on the question as well.

Carla Alston, a Metro spokeswoman, said Young will work to bring his message to the public.

"He hasn't finalized his campaign strategy at this time," Alston said. "He's still talking with a number of people who advise him."