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Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012 | 2 a.m.
Sun coverage
Nevada swung heavily for Democrat Barack Obama for the second time in four years this week. The Silver State has an impressive Democratic machine, changing demographics that favor that party and 90,000 more registered party voters than Republicans have.
But voters here also flashed their fiscally conservative, anti-tax tendencies Tuesday, rejecting by wide margins county tax initiatives to raise money for school construction, libraries, public safety and services for seniors.
The message from voters: We may look like a blue state, but we're not Massachusetts.
In Clark County, it was the first time in at least 25 years that a school construction question was shot down — and it wasn’t even close. Voters pummelled the property tax increase 66 percent to 34 percent. Another question, which would have raised money for Henderson libraries, also was rejected.
In Washoe County, voters rejected an increase of the cost to register vehicles to fund public safety and senior services by a 60 percent to 40 percent margin.
In Carson City, voters overwhelmingly rejected a sales tax increase for a new downtown library center.
It’s an ominous sign for those who want to increase funding for schools, public safety and social services and regard the ballot as the best chance of doing it.
The state’s funding for schools is among the lowest in the nation and has been a constant source of tension for Democrats, moderate business leaders and their traditional allies in policy battles in Carson City.
The Clark County school construction vote “broke my heart,” said Billy Vassiliadis, the prominent political consultant who ran the school campaign this year pro bono, as he had other school construction bond measures in the past.
He said the campaign got off to a late start and struggled to raise money.
Polls showed it was “an uphill battle from Day One,” he said.
Voters, in a state where most people are underwater on their homes and there is still highest-in-the-nation unemployment, expressed concern about their own economic plight.
“It’s hard to make the case for a long-term investment in the state when they’re struggling to get by,” Vassiliadis said.
Republican political consultant Robert Uithoven said Nevada, despite the political results in the presidential race, is still a center-right state on fiscal issues. Its libertarian streak in both parties makes voters predisposed to vote against ballot questions, “particularly those asking for more money.”
With the national races, Uithoven said, “there was so much fog from the competitive races, it was difficult for anyone to launch an effective, proactive campaign on behalf of ballot questions.” It was easier, Uithoven opined, for voters to just push no on their ballots.
How anti-tax Nevada voters are is a relevant question heading into the next legislative session.
Last year, Democrats and business leaders, including major interests like gaming and mining, were blocked from raising taxes or changing the state’s tax structure. Instead, they had to settle for extending existing taxes passed in 2009 for another two years.
During the summer of 2011, when frustration about taxes getting through the Legislature was in full bloom, some business leaders and labor officials decided the legislative process was broken. It requires a two-thirds super-majority of lawmakers to pass taxes there. So they decided taxes via the ballot was the only recourse.
But after seeing initial polls, large business interests, including gaming and mining, backed away from the question. The tax initiative now is being carried by the Nevada State Education Association, the teachers union, which has collected tens of thousands of signatures and is fighting legal challenges from conservative business groups.
Democratic lawmakers acknowledged Wednesday that even though they retained control of both the Senate and Assembly, there was little chance a tax increase would pass in 2013. (They wouldn’t say so publicly for fear of alienating their base.)
Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval, who is up for re-election in 2014, has committed to extending existing taxes but won’t support increasing taxes beyond that.
Dan Hart, the political consultant with the state teachers union, said not to read too much into voters' rejection of the Clark County school construction initiative.
“They didn’t run much of a campaign,” he said. “There was not an education process with the voters. They made it about the buildings instead of the kids.”
He said voters are open to the idea of raising money for education, particularly if that tax was on businesses.
“People of Nevada are not real anxious to raise taxes,” he said. “But the voters of Nevada understand the importance of education, not only to the future of our kids but to the economic prosperity to our community.”
But, as one despondent proponent of the school construction question said: “Voters didn’t just say no. They said hell no.”
Cy Ryan contributed to this story.
As we know Nevada turned Democrat because of the people moving from California.
But these Democrats moved here to escape high taxes
NOT A SINGLE DIME FOR THE CRUMMY TAX SUPPORTED DAYCARE POSING AS EDUCATION.
repeal all the state education laws and move every student to home computer based learning.
there is absolutely no reason english, math, geography, and basic science cannot be learned from home. the only reason to show up in tax supported government school is for welfare freebie breakfast, to play kickball at recess, or afterschool daycare called latchkey.
you can get a college degree on a computer at home. get rid of collectivized tax supported education that is nothing more than government welfare daycare with crummy education results.
It was not about citizens' refusal for more taxes. It was a demand for accountability. The message was: "You are not getting any more until you fix what is wrong."
The problem however, is the district's idea of what is wrong is miles away from the voters' idea of what really needs to be fixed.
Yes, the public wants students to perform better, but it also wants the district to show fiscal responsibility by fixing the bloated, top heavy, administration. It has not addressed that issue, not even a token attempt. Instead, in an already 'tight budget,' it reorganized and added more people to its already top heavy structure, laid-off teachers, and squeezed more children in already overloaded classrooms. It promised students to be 'ready by exit, ' yet alienated those who are getting them ready - the teachers and parents.
The vision is myopic. Each side is using a different lens to see.
A true leader offers a clear vision and ensures everyone uses a single lens to look at a compelling picture of what it wants to achieve.
The district powers-that-be failed to determine the causality and suffered defeat. It will continue to lose until it adjusts its focus.
Voting no on this tax did not seem to be about the issue. The District may be supported by the RJ and the Sun with all the wonderful pro Jones articles but people don't seem to trust CCSD administration's fiscal "truths". CCSD does not project a positive approach to resolving problems. This doesn't bode well with Las Vegans. Who wants to place decision making with a district unable to solve problems without running to the press to badmouth teachers, CCEA and running to arbitration.
Great leadership is often not heard from because the job is being done well.
I am sure the anti tax comes because of government waste. Government salaries and entitlements have been rising all through the meltdown. The best legislators have done is to take away services instead of lowering the way we pay to fit this economy. Even our Auto workers are working for less so it seems if you can stop it you need to change to Charter Schools or even privatize all services. They seems to understand profit and loss vs taxpayers being cash cows at a time keeping a roof over your head has become very difficult or even a job.
"The Silver State has an impressive Democratic machine, changing demographics that favor that party and 90,000 more registered party voters than Republicans have."......... Every day you see and read from the juvenile journalist media that literally brag about the Chameleon Democrats exploitation of Nevada's disadvantaged citizens. Of the 90,000 voter advantage David McGrath Schwartz, how many can even name ONE Supreme Court Judge, that would be news. TAXES are going up, that's what the last four years and this election was about. Obama care will be the largest tax increase in American history folks, on everyone.
I'am in my third year of a salary reduction and my home lost another ten thousand dollars last year! You are crazy if you think I'am going vote to raise my taxes for the school district to waste. CCSD gave the Smith Center a 5 million dollar donation, apparently this donation is more important than maintence and repairs. Government can no longer use the childern as a political weapon to extort taxes from its citizens!
Nancy,
You are absolutely correct, which is why I cast my vote the way I did. Please remember how much we appreciate you and your comments.
The citizens need transparency before they open their shrinking wallets. Plain & simple. What exactly are the responsibilities of all the 6-figure admin and why all the travel in the age of Skype? On Wed. I saw the head sheriff of a large Nevada county at the front of the business executive line at a Southwest Air terminal. When I see that crap my wallet is glued shut the next time I'm asked for more taxes.
This is the nature of the electorate now. Give me more FREE STUFF, but I don't want to pay for it. Make those evil rich people pay more.
I have neighbors, who voted for Obama, who don't realize that we borrow money from China to hand out Free stuff. Some think there is a big bank account somewhere, that the Republicans are refusing to release funds from.
We are a nation of Takers now
It's gotten to the point that if you are going to ask for more money, I want to see an itemized list of how the money will be spent
1. Broken air conditioner @school A - cost $6,000
2. Repave parking lot @school B - cost $30,000
Etc, etc, etc.
Just asking me for more money isn't going to cut it. I want to know exactly how it's going to be spent. There's way too much corruption in this town with sweetheart deals, back room dealings and nepotism. It's sad that it's come to this.
A state with a historical libertarian leaning in both parties should have voted more strongly for Gary Johnson.
Chunky says:
He doubts most voters are against better schools and libraries, he thinks most voters are simply tired of another government hand picking their pockets.
Mr. LV_Tom is right when he says the nature of the electorate is "Give me more FREE STUFF, but I don't want to pay for it."
That's what Chunky thinks too!
Comment removed by moderator. Off Topic
TomD, your statements are pretty disingenuous. You voted for Obama (based on all of your posts) and you have never once asked him for accountability.
Funny world we live in.
I voted for Obama the first time and since he was NEVER accountable for anything (It's Bush's fault) he lost my vote and I voted for Romney.
Clear conscience.
I am wondering how this will all play out. We voted in Obama knowing full well taxes and fees and other costs will go up BUT not wanting any fees or taxes to go up locally.
Welcome to Nevada. Home of the governance schizophrenics.
The problem with this reasoning: this wasn't a generic ballot measure endorsing taxes. These were two very specific taxes, spelled out and collected in a specific way, for specific purposes.
I voted against the CCSD request for increased property taxes. It's not that I'm anti-tax or fiscally conservative; I don't think temporarily increasing property taxes is the best way to fund our education system and its needed repairs.
Pretty simple, and not representative of my general views on our poorly-funded state budget or our state's need for additional revenue.
@Heretic
I never said he was the best candidate...just better overall. I align more closely with his issues on abortion, healthcare, taxes for the wealthy. Trickle down is a farce in my book and seems to be the crux of Romneys argument going forward.
I can't align myself with the hate mongerring language that some of you republicans post here. Obummer, O'dumba, the Kenyan, et al. that shows up in these comments on a daily basis. The republican party has become way too angry for my liking.
My interest in voting for Obama is more driven by his healthcare stance than anything else. Call it personally motivated, whatever...I just find it unconscionable that I can't buy health insurance in Nevada under the present set up. This was my last conversation.."call us back in 5 years".
So TomD votes for the President based on his stance on healthcare yet not one person read this disaster before it was presented. Sorry Tom, some things I agree with that you state but saying this proves you were sorely un-informed.
who says no one read it? You?
tell me what I'm un-informed about
Anti-tax? How are we paying those firefighters and various other employees who are getting 50-300% MORE than private sector workers in comparable jobs? There is TOO MUCH REVENUE so they've "found" places to spend it. They don't need more money. They need to adjust expenditures to reasonableness.
We could revisit Nevada's Sales and Use Tax statutes--to broaden the tax base and LOWER RATES. Eliminate all the 1/4% kickers for "special projects" and recalibrate the parsing. Currently the State General Fund gets 2%. Schools get a similar amount as do Cities and Counties. AND Cities and Counties get all those 1/8 and 1/4 kickers. Clearly the state has grown and must fund Obamacare--that 2% is just not going to do it anymore. At the same time, the Cities, Counties, and School Districts are so OVER funded that they OVERPAY employees by obscene amounts. While we legislate correction in the rates, let's get the SUT to apply to all sales (remove exemptions and credits for various industries) and to also apply the tax to personal grooming services--those who pay $500 for a haircut can afford it. Those who pay $12 can go to a shop that does $13 with tax included. Those who cut their own hair, don't pay more. Could also add pet grooming, "installation" labor when cars are tuned up--might not be wanted but would be a sort-of painless way to level the tax-paying field.
The School System must Prove they are Competent in Educating Students. Regardless of the Financial Status of the System over the past Decades the Teachers and the Administrators have Never been able to accomplish their Core Mission and have lost support from the Public. You do not reward Failure with more Money.
Most Clark County Residents are not native to the region and have few attachments to the school system, making Property Taxes for Schools very unpopular. A Dog Park referendum in Clark County is more Likely to pass than a School System Bond.
Nevada Must Find Alternative ways to fund Education, starting with Considerably Higher Taxes on Multinational Mining Corporations that rape our land and leave only a denuded landscape behind.
Casino Gaming in China is taxed at 40% and all of our local Casino Billionaires do not even blink at paying considerably Higher Taxes everywhere else. We should raise their Taxes and Fund the Education that will attract High Paying Jobs. A Progressive State Income Tax (excepting the First 50k of Income) should be implemented to reduce our reliance on Property taxes and making sure these Billionaires contribute to our community in a Meaningful way.
Low Corporate Taxes Do Not attract the type of businesses we want (Just look at Northern California) a Quality Education and a Highly Trained Workforce will build the future - Not Service Sector Call Centers and Non Union Casino Jobs.
chuck333 Nov. 8, 2012 12:02 p.m.
CHUCK STATED:
So TomD votes for the President based on his stance on healthcare yet not one person read this disaster before it was presented. Sorry Tom, some things I agree with that you state but saying this proves you were sorely un-informed.
*************************
Perhaps Chuck, you could enlighten us with a response supporting your comment stating, "....but saying this proves you were sorely un-informed."
We are waiting.
charge people who uses the schools. Have some bake sales. Done.
Chuck,
Still waiting. Are you going to respond?
You can only fool the taxpayers so many times. We have seen time and time again where tax increases for "schools" ends up in the pockets of administrators and constant increases in pay and benefits with no improvements in student performance or better infrastructure.
CCSD and their ilk have cried "wolf" too many times...now eat it, get to work and cut waste, you will see that there is plenty of money if spent wisely.
Actually Tom Nancy Pelosi herself said she had not read it. So after it was posted two days before the vote did you sit down and read the almost 3000 pages? Doubt it. Even the people that do read these proposals didn't have the time to disect it.
So Pelosi says "We have to pass it to see whats in it" and you say that this thing was read, and understood. There's your response kepi. Not read, by the leader of the House at the time, but yet passed. Is that enough or do you want more?
Still waiting.
Did I have to read word for word GWB's federal marriage amendment?
Did I read word for word GWB's clean development and criteria amendment?
Did you? Doubt it. Like any law put into the books that contains 3,000 pages, no I didn't read every word. I can gather my facts other ways. Which I did. Grabbing onto Pelosi making an off the cuff remark on ACA and applying it to everyone is rather nonsensical.
TomD, nonsensical?? Dude, the devil is in the details. This clearly shows the difference we have between us. I prefer to know what's going on and try to read between the lines. This is the exact problem we face.
BTW, Romney was not my first choice either but given Obama's track record I would rather give somebody else a shot. The election is over and Obama won. Hopefully he can tell the truth about our country now and get some governance done.
We need to INCREASE class size until students can read and write at grade level. Clearly they must teach each other while "their" teachers are out of the class rooms networking with each other and organizing Union activities.
There are other ways to raise revenues other than raiding my wallet just because I own a house. I have been subsidizing CCSD for decades. Enough. I have never had a child enrolled in CCSD. As long as I was working, the tax burden for CCSD was inconsequential. Now I'm retired, and am sick of the hat in hand school district picking my pocket at every opportunity. The results? Abysmal on virtually every criteria used to evaluate what type of education kids get in this burg. I am not a conservative anti tax at all costs person. But as stated in the first sentence of this comment; there are other more equitable ways to raise money. I voted no on Question 2, and would and will do it again if it comes up. I am tired of subsidizing somebody elses kids.
TomD, nonsensical?? Dude, the devil is in the details. This clearly shows the difference we have between us. I prefer to know what's going on and try to read between the lines. This is the exact problem we face.
-------
Although I have time I don't have time to read 3,000 pages on details such as enhanced fraud detection, Investments in new technologies and on and on. If you do, kudos. I know the details I need to know.
This comment is factually inaccurate: "you need to change to Charter Schools or even privatize all services. They seems to understand profit and loss vs taxpayers being cash cows"
Charter schools and privatized services don't cost taxpayers less. They corporations running them say they will cost you less but every legitimate statistical analysis of them actually shows that they cost MORE in the short term and the long term.
K-12 is broken. We've dumped more and more money into it since Governor Guinn said he could fix it. He couldn't. Money didn't fix it. Shut down public ed and fund vouchers for home schooling, parochial schools, for-profit schools and whatever else we can find. We must find OPTIONS for the students. We cannot afford to ignore the disservice and dysfunction in public K-12.