On target issues, Nevada lawmakers had some hits, some misses

By Ric Anderson, Kyle Roerink

Sunday, June 7, 2015 | 2 a.m.

The 2015 Nevada legislative session will be remembered for producing the largest tax increase in state history — an initiative that both Democrat and Republican lawmakers said long had been needed to help the state’s education system.

But no session is without its failings, and this one was no exception.

Here’s a rundown of some of the Legislature’s hits and misses from 2015.

Funding for education: HIT

When Republicans gained control of the Legislature during the 2014 elections, the prospect of a tax increase for education coming out of the 2015 session might have seemed iffy at best. The party markets itself to voters as being allergic to taxes, and many GOP lawmakers signed pledges not to increase taxes.

But while some hard-liners remained opposed throughout, a combination of compromises from Gov. Brian Sandoval on his tax proposal and softening by some conservatives led to a victory for public school students in Nevada. The $1.5 billion tax increase raises state funding for education by more than $600 million, for a total of $2.85 billion — a huge boost for one of the most poorly performing systems in the nation.

So what was the key? Helping businesses, not necessarily students, was a big one. Conservatives such as Assemblyman Erven Nelson, R-Las Vegas, said they listened when state economic development and commerce officials said the shameful condition of Nevada’s education system was making it difficult for local businesses to attract qualified workers and made outside businesses leery of coming here.

“It’s easy to sit at home and spout the party line, and I did it,” Nelson said. “I gradually changed my mind.”

The tax package includes an increase in the business license fee from $200 to $500 for corporations, a hike in the payroll tax, a $1-per-pack increase in cigarette taxes, a boost in the sales tax rate and a new gross receipts levy that will hit local businesses and expand the base to out-of-state companies that earn revenue from sales in the state.

Transparency issues: MISS

One of the rare issues on which liberals and conservatives tend to agree is the need for more openness in government — looser restrictions on what types of records can be obtained by the public, lower costs for the public to pay for copying and clerical services on records requests, and other similar transparency measures.

But the GOP, despite being the party demanding greater accountability in government, failed to use its majorities to promote the best means of making government more open in Nevada and allowing the public to force officials to be more accountable.

Medical school: HIT

By approving $27 million for development of the UNLV medical school, the Legislature helped improve Southern Nevada’s health in more ways than one. The medical school not only will boost the quality of the region’s health care system by producing highly qualified doctors, it will improve the economy through related research and by making the area more attractive to businesses. Better health care means healthier, happier and more productive workers.

Minimum wage increase fails to launch: MISS

Raising the minimum wage helps the economy. Just ask the 600 economists who signed a letter for the Economic Policy Institute in support of raising the national minimum wage to $10.10 by 2016.

But Nevada lawmakers failed to pass a measure to increase the state minimum wage from $8.25 to $9 for employees working without health insurance benefits. The Senate’s version of the bill was tied to a poison provision calling for overtime to kick in after 10 hours instead of eight.

Department of Motor Vehicles funding: HIT

Going to a Nevada DMV office has been described as a hazing ritual for new state residents — the lines are that long. It’s no picnic for locals either, and a new online check-in system hasn’t helped ease congestion.

Sandoval and legislators approved funding for technological upgrades and other initiatives designed to shorten the wait.

Solar cap: MISS

The Legislature could have made a bold statement on the future of solar power. But lawmakers treated the issue like a hot potato, approving a bill that left key decisions to the Public Utilities Commission, including determining whether to increase the number of rooftop solar customers who could benefit from net metering, which allows people to offset utility expenses by selling surplus power back to NV Energy.

Lawmakers, however, did pass a stopgap that temporarily increases by 10 megawatts the solar cap, set at 3 percent of the utility’s peak capacity, or 225 megawatts. The PUC will make a final ruling in December.

More than 2,500 customers participate in net metering, but solar power advocates say the cap will be hit as early as summer.

Also kicked to the PUC was the issue of whether to charge rooftop solar customers a fee for net metering.

On the positive end for potential solar customers, the door remains open for an increase in the cap.