Panel OKs Washoe room tax hike

SB477 boosts the tax on hotel and motel guests by 3 percent in Washoe County and 2 percent in downtown Reno.

But the Taxation Committee also deleted a provision that would allow Sparks to boost its room tax an extra 1 percent to be in line with Reno and the county.

Also, the committee rejected an amendment sought by Reno to delete an eight-year allocation of room tax proceeds to Sparks totalling more than $1 million.

Sparks has refused to boost its room tax to the level of Reno and persuaded lawmakers to add the payment plan over Reno's objections.

The measure now goes to the full Assembly and then to a Senate-Assembly conference committee to resolve differences.

archive