Editorial: Meetings law applies to all
Friday, Sept. 2, 2005 | 9:36 a.m.
The Nevada Tax Commission wants to give a California utility $40 million without telling anybody why. Attorney General Brian Sandoval has filed a lawsuit, saying such secrecy is prohibited by the state's open meeting law.
The commission points to a law that allows anyone appealing their tax levies to meet privately with the commissioners when discussing the specifics of their finances. This is reasonable, as it safeguards financial privacy and proprietary information that would be useful to competitors. But the commission contends that state law allows it to conduct the whole proceeding in private, including all discussions among commissioners as well as the final vote.
When the commission voted in secret to return $40 million in taxes paid by Southern California Edison, which operates a power plant near Laughlin, Sandoval sued, saying the public had a right to know why the decision was made. The open meeting law allows certain information to be disclosed behind closed doors but requires that deliberations and voting be held in public. After the lawsuit was filed, state Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, sought an opinion from the Legislature's legal arm, the Legislative Counsel Bureau. The bureau sided with the commission and Townsend said that was only right, as it has deliberated and voted in private for years.
Our view is that there is nothing in the open meeting law that exempts the Tax Commission from its stipulations. Sandoval's lawsuit should prevail.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Google Maps glitch renames Henderson
- Fight snapshot: Pacquiao is a hit with Jimmy Kimmel, and vice versa
- Vegas is inspiring, but not buying, ideas for tourism ads
- Rebels’ win raises a few what-ifs
- Pinnacle CEO resigns after meeting confrontation
- Wood: Not the renewable energy some had in mind
- Quagga mussels a toxic threat to Lake Mead
- As earnings fall, Riviera unsure if bankruptcy can be avoided
- Trial set for parents of boy, 4, who died in hot vehicle
- Not all doctors agree with AMA support of bill
Blogs
The Kats Report
Of tanking, drugs and 'Slim': In 'Open,' Andre Agassi beats the odds
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Who are the Final Four on Dancing With the Stars?
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Drugs bring Nevada governor, first lady back together (3 Comments)
Elsewhere
Macau's gambling industry faces nightmare of water rationing (2 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Odds Week 11: And then there were six
Politics: The Early Line
Rep. Berkley livens health care debate with story of her own (1 Comment)
Now and Then
Wranglers to face familiar foe and that's putting it mildly
Calendar »
- 11 Wed
- 12 Thu
- 13 Fri
- 14 Sat
- 15 Sun
-
Las Vegas Wranglers vs. Utah Grizzlies
Orleans Hotel-Casino
-
Leaving Springfield at Beauty Bar
Beauty Bar | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Justin Sayne and Dignity at Moon
Moon Nightclub | 10:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Lily Tomlin at the Hollywood Theatre
Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand
-
2nd Annual Go-Go Cup at Blush
Blush Boutique Nightclub | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati











