Water agency revives call for hike in sales tax

A quarter-cent sales tax increase rejected by Clark County commissioners in August was pitched again Monday afternoon by the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

The agency told the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority -- a group preparing the Las Vegas Valley for 20 years of growth -- that a tax hike is needed to keep up with water demands.

The water authority spends $1 million a day on new facilities. By the end of the year, it will have spent or committed $1.2 billion toward the expansion of the water system that branches out as the county grows.

Pat Mulroy, general manager of the water authority, said one of the agency's many challenges is to search for ways to lessen the burden on the vital Las Vegas Wash, which is slowly eroding.

The upkeep of the wash -- which transports treated wastewater to Lake Mead and serves as an outlet for storm water -- is crucial if the authority wants to receive assistance from the federal government. The agency is currently negotiating with the government to expand its storage basin in Arizona.

"The wash has become an issue," Mulroy told the planning organization. "We will not be banking (water) in Arizona without first resolving the issues surrounding the wash.

"These are challenges that will always be with us. These are not going to change. We're in a desert community."

The planning authority's executive council directed its water quality subcommittee to further study the condition of the wash and methods to improve the county's overall water system.

The planning authority also approved its Master Plan and Capital Improvement Plan. Members of the planning group wrote the report after spending nine months reviewing each Clark County city's master plan.

The authority is broken down into several committees including a needs assessment group and a financial review group. The committees will study the report and make suggestions to improve each community's plan.

The final report ultimately will be shipped to the Legislature, which can establish legislation to help the county reach its goals.

"This is the first product of the planning authority," said Terry Wright, owner of Nevada Title Co. and a member of the authority. "It's an important achievement."

Wright said that after the authority completes its task, a regional planning organization likely will be formed to handle future planning issues.

The authority is also looking In order to transfer the water from Lake Mead to the valley, however, the Las Vegas wash must be preserved.

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