Assembly committee OKs bill clearing way to dissolve city of Ely

Associated Press

Friday, May 15, 2015 | 10:12 a.m.

CARSON CITY — A Nevada Assembly committee has approved a measure that would let voters within the tiny city of Ely decide whether to dissolve their city.

The Assembly Government Affairs Committee voted 8-6 on Friday to pass SB238, which was sponsored by Republican Sen. Pete Goicoechea. It now goes to the Assembly floor.

The measure would create a 2017 ballot question to break up the City of Ely and instead form a town that would be governed by White Pine County.

Goicoechea and county officials said the measure would save money by reducing duplicated government services, like separate district attorneys and fire services.

Ely city officials are strongly opposed to the measure.

Ely has a population of about 4,000 and lies in eastern Nevada. It's one of the state's 19 incorporated cities.