Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

City, county helped Justice build case

Clark County and city of Las Vegas officials showed little surprise at criminal charges being filed against Silver State Disposal Service -- after all, their employees helped the Justice Department build its case.

Both governments had received subpoenas in the past six months that required staff members to testify before the grand jury, which indicted the garbage company Tuesday on tax fraud charges.

Government officials were treating the news cautiously, repeating that Silver State was innocent until proven guilty.

"We can't prejudge," Clark County Commission Chairwoman Yvonne Atkinson Gates said. "I think every person is entitled to have their day in court."

Las Vegas spokeswoman Cathy Hanson said the city plans to monitor the court proceedings before taking any action. Mayor Jan Laverty Jones was out of town and unavailable for comment.

The city and county plan to review the indictment to determine whether current residential garbage rates would have changed based on the new knowledge that Silver State may have used false financial information to justify cost increases.

Collection rates throughout the Las Vegas Valley were last raised in 1994 when local governments approved a $1.55 hike for a total $9.70 a month per household. The next rate increase is expected in 1997.

Silver State recently raised public concern when it appeared before county commissioners with a request to change the rate increase formula.

The county adopted the formula that permits Silver State to make a 7 percent increase in profit based on the net income, or money made after taxes. The city has yet to approve the garbage company's request and is moving cautiously.

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