Washoe, Carson voters turn down tax proposals

By Cy Ryan

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008 | 11:55 a.m.

CARSON CITY – Voters in Washoe County don’t mind hitting the tourist with higher taxes to support the public schools, but they don’t want money coming out of their own pockets.

Voters in Carson City also turned down a tax hike to expand the historic Virginia and Truckee Railroad, a proposal endorsed by Mayor Marvin Texeira.

Outside of Clark County, plans to raise local taxes mostly bit the dust.

In six rural counties, voters approved plans to issue additional bonds to help improve the local schools. But there would not be any increase in the property tax. The bonds could be paid off from the existing property tax rate.

Washoe voters gave a resounding “yes,” by a 57.2 to 43.7 percent margin, to an advisory question asking whether the hotel-motel room tax should increase to bring in an estimated $125 million more for schools in the second year of the biennium.

The question was on the ballots in Clark, Washoe and Lander counties and the results will be presented to the Legislature to formally approve the room tax increase.

Washoe County voters however turned down the question to raise the sales tax and motor vehicle tax to provide about $23 million a year for the school district to construct, improve and equip school facilities. It was rejected 45.3 percent to 54.6 percent.

The plan called for boosting the sales tax by one-quarter point and imposing an additional one-half cent per $1 valuation on vehicles.

Voters in Washoe County also rejected raising the sales tax by one-eighth point to improve the transportation system in the area. The vote was 36.1 percent for and 63.8 percent against.

By a narrow margin, voters in the Sierra Fire Protection District in Washoe County turned down a plan to issue up to $5.2 million in bonds to be financed by 4.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation on property. It was aimed at equipping fire stations and acquiring fire engines. The vote was 47.8 percent for and 52.1 percent against.

On the ballot in Carson City was an advisory question to allow an increase of one-eight of one percent in the sales and use tax to finance $10 million in bonds to help expand the train line from Virginia City to near Carson City. It was touted as becoming a major tourist attraction. It went down to defeat 38.8 to 61.1 percent against.

The voters in Carson City also turned down a plan to raise the property tax by 12.6 cents per $100 assessed valuation to help the fire department expand its ambulance service and wild land fire protection. It would have also helped in supporting the sheriff’s department gang unit. It lost on 30.8-69.2 percent.

Here is a rundown of the voting on tax proposals in rural Nevada:

CHURCHILL COUNTY: Voters approved a plan to allow the school district to issue bonds to finance construction and equipping of schools. It won 51-48.9 percent.

DOUGLAS COUNTY: Voters approved the school district issuing bonds to equip and construct school facilities but the property tax rate will not increase. It won 61.6-38.3 percent.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY: The county school district was authorized to issue bonds for improvement and equipping school facilities and it will not result in an increase in the existing tax rate of 13.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. It won 63.7-36.7 percent.

LANDER COUNTY: The issue of raising the hotel room tax by three percent was on the ballot of Lander County, along with Washoe and Clark counties. While being approved in the two larger counties, it was defeated in this rural county 31.4-68.4 percent.

LINCOLN COUNTY: The school district was authorized to sell up to $5 million in bonds for improving school facilities. This is not expected to result in an increase in the existing property tax rate. The vote was 70.6-29.3 percent for approval.

LYON COUNTY: The South Lyon County Hospital District was authorized to continue to levy an additional property tax rate to maintain a hospital. The approval vote was 51.3-48.6 percent.

NYE COUNTY: The Town Board of Tonopah was narrowly turned down by voters in a plan to levy additional property tax to maintain the town’s parks and recreational programs. The vote was 49.1-50.8 percent against.

PERSHING COUNTY: Voters approved allowing the school district to issue bonds to finance improvements of schools. The final tally was 52.6-47.3 percent for approval.

WHITE PINE COUNTY: The school district was allowed to issue bonds for improvements, but it would not result in an increase of the existing school bond property tax rate. The vote was 57.2-42.7 percent for approval.

Cy Ryan may be reached at (775) 687 5032 or [email protected].