Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

County’s demand for $105.2 million refund turned over to AG’s office

Click to enlarge photo

Kate Marshall

Click to enlarge photo

Catherine Cortez Masto

CARSON CITY – State Treasurer Kate Marshall isn't jumping to the demand of the Clark County District Attorney’s Office to return $102.5 million that was diverted to the state during two fiscal years.

Marshall said there is “not a definitive decision” on whether the state is obligated to refund the disputed tax money to local governments.

“It’s not my office to make a decision,” said Marshall, who turned the dispute over to the office of Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto.

The Nevada Supreme Court ruled in May that the state in 2009 illegally grabbed $62 million from the Clean Water Coalition in Clark County. There were suggestions the state might owe $656.2 million to local governments for the money it diverted to balance the state’s budget.

Gov. Brian Sandoval asked the attorney general to request a clarification from the Supreme Court on whether the state owed that additional money, but Masto said there were no grounds to request a re-hearing.

The Clark County Commission on June 7 directed its staff to seek the refund.

Clark County Counsel Mary-Ann Miller said in a letter Wednesday the bill in the 2009 Legislature diverting money from the county violated the Nevada Constitution and deprived Clark County citizens of its intended use.

Miller said $54.5 million was diverted in local property tax from Clark County in fiscal year 2010 and so far this year, $48 million has been siphoned off by the state.

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