Fine touts consolidation plan to equalize county-city taxes

Mayoral candidate Mark Fine used the April 15 tax deadline to announce his plans to consolidate two city and county departments as a first step toward creating tax equity.

Standing on the City Hall Plaza, Fine announced plans to consolidate the city's Municipal Court with the county's Justice Court and to link the criminal division of the city attorney's office with the district attorney's office.

"I think that we've heard ideas for consolidation for so long, but these are two concrete ideas as to how we can achieve tax equity," Fine said.

Fine said he called Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone -- who was elected in part for his desire to equalize the city and county tax bases -- to ask him for his ideas.

Although Malone did not say he was endorsing Fine for mayor, he did offer his help working on the issue from the county side, Fine said.

A 1997 study found that consolidating the court system could save the city more than $8 million. The cost of the criminal division of the city attorney's office is about $2.5 million annually, Fine said.

"I think that people will believe that something can happen," he said. "As much as $10 million can by saved by merging these departments. What can we do about fire, parks and recreation and other areas?"

Fine's comments came in the wake of two polls that show him bridging the gap to the other two candidates.

The results of both a Fine poll and a Mirage Resorts poll show criminal defense attorney Oscar Goodman with 30 percent of the vote and both Fine and Councilman Arnie Adamsen with 20 percent, according to Fine campaign manager Dan Hart.

Fine is making an issue of tax equity because an owner of a $100,000 home in the city pays about $150 more a year in property taxes than owners of equally valued homes in the county.

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