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Gov. Jim Gibbons speaks with the media after what he described as a “cordial” meeting with Republican leaders to discuss differences during the third day of the special legislative session Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010, in Carson City.
Monday, March 1, 2010 | 1:26 p.m.
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Legislative leaders said Nevadans will feel the pain -- including in their pocketbooks -- of the decisions they made to close the budget shortfall.
Those convicted of minor crimes will have to pay an additional $5. Visits to state parks will cost more, as will mining claims. Lobbyists will be assessed more at the 2011 session to raise an extra $100,000.
The Legislature, which adjourned at 2:16 a.m. this morning, tacked on fees to help fill the $887 million deficit facing the state.
The Gaming Control Board will raise the rate it charges for investigating new applicants, from $80 an hour to $135 an hour. Gov. Jim Gibbons had suggested the elimination of 31 positions at the board, but the fee increase will restore 24 of those positions.
Boxing promoters will be able to assess an admission tax of 6 percent, up from the current 4 percent. Banks filing to foreclose on a home will pay an extra $150.
Those seeking to gain vital records from the state for such things as births, deaths and marriages will have to pay more. The exact amount hasn't been determined but the state Health Division has to bring in an additional $368,000 from the higher fees.
Assembly Bill 6, which reduces spending by state agencies and increases some fees, passed the Assembly 34-8 with Republican members opposing the measure. It cleared the Senate 20-1 with Bob Coffin voting no. He favored increasing taxes to offset reductions in government programs.
The Secretary of State's office will increase some of its filing fees. For example, the charge will go up from $75 to $100 for filing a notice of withdrawal from the state by a foreign corporation, for filing articles of dissolution of a domestic or foreign company and for withdrawal of a limited liability partnership.
The fee for filing as a sales representative with the Secretary of State goes from $110 to $125. There are also a number of fee increases, ranging from $25 to $40, for various transactions involving the Secretary of State's office.
The Legislature also imposed an amnesty from July 1 to Oct. 1 to allow delinquent taxpayers to bring their unpaid taxes to the state Department of Taxation without penalty or interest. It is hoped there will be a return of more than $10 million.
The state Division of Insurance has been directed to start a desk audit program to make sure all the insurance premium taxes have been paid. There may bring in an extra $10 million.
One of the biggest debates in the Senate, over AB 6, came on taking more from offenders to help support coffee shops, gymnasiums and part of the cost for correctional officers' salaries for visitation posts.
Sen. Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, objected to the money being used for salaries of correctional officers, calling it a step toward a "debtor's prison." She and some other senators complained that if there was not enough money that visiting by families could be curtailed.
The bill permits the prison to impose a fee on the purchase by inmates of a cell phone or other electronic devises.
Sen. John Lee, D-North Las Vegas, said this was "immoral" and would hurt young families and prevent children from seeing their father or mother in prison.
The Legislative Commission will have a chance to examine this policy before the prison puts it into effect.
Those with mining claims will be hit with higher fees. A miner holding 11-199 claims will pay an extra $70 for each. For those with 200 to 1,299, the added fee will be $85 each. And for those miners with more than 1,300 claims, the tab will be $195 each. This increase will expire on June 30, 2011.
Visit to parks is expected to increase by $1 or $2.
Those convicted of offenses in municipal or justice courts will be hit with an extra $5 assessment.
The Legislature also took aim at the lobbyists. There were 600 paid lobbyists and 300 unpaid representatives at the 2009 regular legislative session. The unpaid lobbyist coughed up $20 while the paid got hit an average registration fee of $100.
Lorne Malkiewich, director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau, said the new registration fees will be set this fall by the Legislative Commission to collect an extra $100,000. He doesn't want to increase the amount for unpaid lobbyist. But there could be an increase of up to $160 for paid advocates.
Our Legislative leaders should put their money where their mouths are. They should set the example by taking at least a 20% PAY CUT.
"The bill permits the prison to impose a fee on the purchase by inmates of a cell phone or other electronic devises." How does inmates afford a cell phone and service each month?
"Sen. John Lee, D-North Las Vegas, said this was "immoral" and would hurt young families and prevent children from seeing their father or mother in prison." -- I think he may be confused. The immorality was in commiting a crime that warranted incarceration. And I'm not convinced that visiting a parent in prison is beneficial to the psyche of a child, and may in fact be detrimental.
So, our big government would rather not admit that they have mis-managed all the taxpayer $$
Instead, they increase the "user-fees." (so that the gov't receives more $$ that they can mis-manage for us)
"Fee"="Tax"
Big gov't is a joke. They have no idea how to manage a budget.
And no, I don't feel bad for an inmate who doesn't have a cell phone.
"immoral"??--give me a break.
Fees = TAXES, there is no difference. Just remember the party of RepubliCONs got the country and our state into this mess...starting wars and not paying for them with tax cuts for the wealthy along with corporate welfare full tilt...
Republicans got us into thie? I believe the Democrats are the one that passed the biggest tax increast in Nevada history over Governor Gibbons veto and proceeded to pour that money into every rathole they could find. Why are the overpaid and little worked government union dregs getting pay increases when the people who really work hard, those with real jobs, are getting their wages cut?
If I was in prison, I would be too embarassed to let my child see me. Then again, prison is not a part of my lifestyle.
"The bill permits the prison to impose a fee on the purchase by inmates of a cell phone or other electronic devises." What!? They are in PRISON! Stand in line to call on a landline! Senator Lee you are WAY off base on this one. What's next? A car so the loved ones can get out to the prison?
The cell phone issue is a red herring. Cell phones are illegal in every prison in Nevada.
The reporter has gotten it wrong,or Skolnik is talking out of his arse.
what a bunch of bull,we as taxpayers already pay for the park,now we have to pay to go inside of it
You guys elected them ...live with it.
So when does the first Teabagger lawsuit come from the party of No regarding these bills that were passed after the Luv Guv's deadline of 11:59pm on 2/28/10? Sounds like a bunch of these fees/taxes would be stopped if one of them had the gumption to follow through on their slogan of No.