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By Anjeanette Damon (contact) 
Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012 | 2 a.m.
Sun coverage
In Nevada’s shifting political alliances, nothing is more intriguing than those along the axis of the tax debate.
For a decade, the mining industry has aligned itself with interests that have backed a broad-based business tax, betting it would be a strong position from which to withstand the more politically popular alternative — to increase taxes solely on mining companies.
The strategy put the mining industry in some uneasy partnerships with the gaming industry — which shares its worry of industry-specific taxes — and with some progressive groups that want to see the tax base broadened but have concerns about the environmental impact of mining.
But after the industry became the sole target of a multi-front legislative attack last year, some companies appear to be rethinking their alliances.
Shortly after the legislative session ended,Barrick Gold Corp., the state’s largest mining company, opted to join the Keystone Corporation, a political organization opposed to raising taxes. Any taxes. Period.
Barrick not only joined the organization; it contributed $30,000 last year, according to Keystone’s recently filed 2011 campaign finance report. A glance through the past three years of contribution reports shows no single business had matched that sum.
Barrick officials did not return calls seeking comment. But sources close to Barrick say the decision to join wasn’t solely political. Rather, it’s part of a business decision to become more integrated in the Las Vegas business community.
Barrick has joined the Latin Chamber of Commerce and other organizations. Joining Keystone is no different, they said. (It has not yet joined the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, perhaps conspicuously given its effort to integrate into the Southern Nevada community.)
“Barrick has some pretty strong corporate citizenship rules that they take seriously,” one source said. “And that is a pretty important relationship to have. Conversations happen at that organization that are better to be part of than not.”
Corporate citizenship aside, the decision also signals Barrick may see declining value in aligning itself with forces that support a broad-based business tax.
First, the company and others in the industry are still smarting over what they perceived as an all-out assault by their former partners during the legislative session. Driven by progressive organizations, lawmakers eliminated the industry’s eminent domain powers, created a new industry oversight commission, killed some of its tax deductions and started the process to remove the industry’s constitutional tax protections.
“Progressives took a natural friend and beat him up,” one industry source said.
Ironically, Monte Miller, one of Keystone’s longtime leaders, recently said he would pursue a ballot measure to raise the mining tax — an effort that the Keystone board voted to oppose.
Second, last session proved to many that a broad-based tax will be impossible to get through the Legislature.
As a result, if the state continues to operate in the red, calls for raising industry-specific taxes — taxes that the proverbial “other guy” pays — will become more insistent.
Still, some in the industry question Barrick’s decision to join an organization that is seen by centrist organizations as obstructionist for its refusal to participate in negotiations over how to change the state’s tax structure.
One industry source cautioned that Barrick shouldn’t be compared to organizations who resolutely say “no” whenever any question of taxes comes up. “We’re still a moderate industry,” the source said.
Indeed, Barrick officials haven’t publicly separated themselves from the push for a broad-based tax.
Michael Brown, the company’s chief corporate lobbyist, penned a newsletter just last week that emphasized the company’s desire to strengthen the tax base to support higher education.
“As the Legislature struggles to keep funds flowing to higher education, Barrick has stepped forward and supported a broad range of revenue-generating options,” Brown wrote. “We have supported increases in the modified business tax and other proposed broad-based revenue measures.”
Yet, as forces continue to align and then realign as the tax battle potentially heads to the ballot this year, it will be interesting to see where the mining industry lands.
The Iraq and Afghanistan War were financed by debt - now Barrick Mining is pushing the debt paid by someone else, as they work the same way on the National level. Their Patriotism means waving the flag during deployment and advancing with lobbyists when it comes time to pay.
The advertisement says 'Mining for Nevada's Future'. Who's future? What future?
As the People of Nevada suffer, the very life-blood financially squeezed out of them, we witness over a century of corporate mining walking out of the State of Nevada with the riches they pulled out of the State's Earth, going to their well appointed mansions around the globe, thumbing their noses at Nevadans.
Could it be, now that the People have begun to awaken, that MINING is now creating a new strategy to fool the People of Nevada?
Dear MINING,
You are welcome to mine Nevada, but you must also pay your fair share: all Nevada wants is what is even an AVERAGE in taxes you are paying in the other states! Nevada and Nevadans are NOT yours to EXPLOIT.
Sincerely,
The Good People of Nevada
Blessings and Peace,
Star
Amen, Star!!!
Star!!!! Consider Yourself Fanned and Faved.
In 2009, the mining industry had gross revenue of 5.8 BILLION. After deductions, including some that may have not complied with state law, the net profit was 1.8 BILLION. The tax paid to the state of Nevada was 48.6 MILLION. The state of Alaska collects a royalty of 25% on oil. Alaska currently has a 3 BILLION surplus in the state budget, and Exxon just reported record 1st quarter profits of over 10 BILLION, so the royalty payment doesn't seem to be causing the oil companies financial problems.
The Barrack annual report has just been published, and shows record profits and dividends above the record levels of 2009. This is a link to the report, you may want to look closely at pages 2, 3, and 4. http://media.lasvegassun.com/media/pdfs/...... Net earnings and profits have jumped dramatically between 2009 and 2010. Shareholders return on investment jumped from 12% in 2009 to 19% in 2010.
In 2010, the Cortez Hill mine in Nevada produced 1.14 MILLION ounces (31.6 TONS) of gold at a cost of $312 per ounce. In the first quarter of 2011, the mine produced 366000 ounces (11.4 TONS) at a cost of $220 per ounce. Assuming a profit of $1000 per ounce, which is conservative, that means in the first quarter there was a profit of $366,000,000. Based on previous experience, the State of Nevada will see less than $20,000,000 in tax revenue. If you project the 1st quarter for a year, it amounts to a profit of $1,464,000,000.
Poor Barrick. It could afford only to buy a $7.8 billion mining operation outside Nevada, but it can't afford to pay more taxes in Nevada. Poor, poor Barrick. If Nevadans allow this company and industry to get away with this, they have only themselves to blame.
It's blatant corruption when it comes to mining. At least gaming legitimately employs a huge number of people. Mining is a joke, and the legislators are a joke if they don't change how the industry is treated. Raping our land, and we get nothing in return, but the legislators get funding for their campaigns. It's disgusting.
This is one of very few political issues that actually makes me angry.
Barrick will get their way.
Because the lobbyist that works for their interest, and the entity they pay handsomely to further their anti-tax stance, is Jones Vargas.
Governor Sandoval, before he became Governor of the Sovereign State of Nevada, was a lawyer who worked with the large law/lobby firm Jones Vargas.
He's in Barrick's pockets.
They WILL get their way and not pay taxes. They will get their money's worth out of this Governor.
Because OUR Governor has been bought off. Lock, stock and barrel he's in their camp.
He works for Jones Vargas first.
Not Nevada.
Nevada and the citizens that live here are of no interest to him.
His actions clearly show that.
Get the initiatives going. We need to put this on a ballot. The Governor won't run this State right, then WE, the people of Nevada, the ones who are supposed to have the most say in what happens here, WILL ensure we rectify this incredible injustice. And an injustice is a polite term for it. Barrick not only mines gold and takes it out of Nevada, BUT THEY TAKE IT OUT OF THIS COUNTRY TOO!
Time to get angry, people. I know I can't be the only one.
I was wondering when mining would speak. Never fear, the RINO/DINO party and the courts of Nevada will protect them.
How much profit did mining make in Nevada in 2011 and how much tax did they pay the state of Nevada?
Barrick is flush with cash as their business is incredibly profitable. Never feel sorry for these guys. Mining taxes are extremely low and should be increased substantially. Barrick can afford the best lobbyists in the country but we need to increase those mining taxes in any case. Much of this ore is going to China.