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November 16, 2009

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Letter: It’s time to slow Las Vegas growth

Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006 | 7:04 a.m.

Clark County has been growing at an annual rate of 4 percent or 5 percent per year. The rate for the United States is 1 percent. No country on Earth has a rate higher than 4 percent.

Rapid Clark County growth is clearly linked to airport congestion, crime, illegal immigration, habitat loss, land price increases, medical problems, pollutants, road rage, school underfunding, traffic problems, utility cost increases and water scarcity. And rapid growth creates a need for taxes, taxes and more taxes for multiyear residents.

After 19 years of leading the nation in growth, let's hope 2007 instigates a new outlook where city, county and state politicians start to behave more responsibly in slowing the rate of growth.

One way to slow growth is to put a daily dollar tax on every occupied hotel room and a $2,000 tax on every new home. If this slows growth to zero, these taxes can be repealed. If these taxes do not slow growth, they can be doubled.

Mark Bird, Las Vegas

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