Legislative briefs for April 6, 2005

Wednesday, April 6, 2005 | 9:44 a.m.

Senate approves tax rebate hike

By unanimous vote, the Senate Tuesday passed and sent to the Assembly a bill to double the rebate available to low income senior citizens on their property taxes.

A senior citizen with a household income of $24,016 or less is now eligible for the program, would receive a maximum $1,000 rebate on his property tax, up from the present $500.

To be eligible for the program, the assessed value of the home may not exceed $120,000, up from the present $87,500. And the senior citizen, to qualify, could have up to $205,000 in liquid assets, up from the present $150,000.

"While property tax rates have been skyrocketing, this program has not been updated since 1979," Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-las Vegas, who sponsored Senate Bll 72, said after the vote.

She said even with the property tax limits passed last week, there "are still seniors who are struggling to pay their property taxes, as they also cope with the rising costs of prescription drugs, food and housing."

Senate passes regents' pay

Regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada don't receive any salary for their service. But that will change under a bill approved by the Senate 18-2 Tuesday.

Senate Bill 149 would give each regent $80 for each meeting attended.

The bill, which goes to the Assembly, was opposed by Las Vegas Democrats Terry Care and Margaret Carlton. Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, abstained because she is a professor at UNLV.

Regents already get travel allowances and $60 per diem each for attending meetings.