Sandoval might back tax increase submitted to voters

By Cy Ryan

Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 | 2:19 p.m.

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval, who opposes higher taxes or fees, might back an increase submitted to voters for approval.

Dale Erquiaga, special adviser to Sandoval, said it “depends on how it is arranged. It is something that he is considering.

“But as you know, the devil is always in the details,” he said. "It would depend on what kind of an increase, which voters and at which election and for how long.”

Erquiaga said the governor has never said he would prohibit a vote on taxes.

Sandoval is supporting at least one fee increase that would impose a fee on motorists who use a kiosk in registering a car or getting duplicates of licenses. At present the state pays the operator of the kiosk for each transaction, which has amounted to several hundred thousand dollars.

That has helped reduce long lines in the offices of the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

Erquiaga said the governor would look at fee increases on a case-by-case basis but withheld comment on whether there was support in the administration for a bill to raise the cost of marriage licenses.

Also Monday, Erquiaga said a protest was “not unexpected” by about 50 state workers unhappy with a proposed 5 percent reduction in salary and reduction in health benefits.

He said the governor has recommended the same cutback in salary for teachers and university personnel as a “shared sacrifice.” He noted the local school board and the university Board of Regents make those decisions.

If there is extra tax revenue available when the Economic Forum makes its updated revenue predictions in May, Sandoval would want to soften the reductions to education and social services, Erquiaga said.

He said the extra cash might be used to restore the debt reserve of the school districts.

On taxes, Erquiaga said the governor “campaigned against revenue increases and the public sent him here. I don’t think they would expect him to change his position.

“They (the public) might wish to tell certain legislators to change their position if they knew what it was, “ Erquiaga said, referring to previous criticism that the lawmakers aren’t revealing what, if any, taxes they might consider increasing.

The governor has signed his first bill – Senate Bill 1, which allocates $15 million to pay the cost of the Legislature. He has pledged to meet with all 63 lawmakers.