Wednesday, May 26, 1999 | 9:13 a.m.
CARSON CITY - Nevada lawmakers are inching closer to final approval of the state's two-year, $3.2 billion spending plan, closing budgets for agencies governing cab, limo, bus and moving companies.
After some hand-wringing, the Assembly Ways and Means Committee decided Tuesday to endorse the Senate's version of budgets for the Transportation Services Authority and the Taxicab Authority.
The action brings the lawmakers a step closer closer to getting out of town by a mandatory adjournment next Monday - the 120th day of the 1999 session.
The spending proposals were two of only a few remaining agency budgets to be resolved before lawmakers take final action on a state spending plan for the next two years.
The Assembly panel initially had trouble deciding what to do with a Senate bill reorganizing the two agencies and creating a taxicab regulatory authority in northern Nevada.
Part of the problem was that the reorganization bill, SB491, would make substantial changes to Gov. Kenny Guinn's plan for the TSA and the taxicab agency - and as of Tuesday it hadn't been delivered to the Assembly committee from the Senate.
Ways and Means members were reluctant to endorse the budget before they got a look at SB491, expressing concern that they may still have to go back and make spending adjustments.
"Based on the budget as recommended by the governor, SB491 would make substantial changes to the TSA and TA budgets," said Dan Tom, the administration's chief of Business and Industry.
Under SB491, different taxi authorities would be created for the northern and southern parts of the state. The northern version would regulate Washoe County while the southern Taxicab Authority would deal just with Las Vegas. Both bodies would regulate taxis and limousines.
Funding would be generated by driver fees of 10 cents a trip - plus $75 a year for each taxi and $500 a year for each limousine a company uses.
But the cost to run the authorities could be more than those fees would generate, and lawmakers were skeptical of a proposal to use highway funds to make up the difference.
"I'm still confused on the funding," said Assemblyman John Marvel, R-Battle Mountain, who said he's not convinced the state needs to reorganize its transportation regulatory scheme.
"What is the justification for it? I don't see the need for it in the north. I don't think the one taxi cab in Battle Mountain need regulation," he added.
Tom said he's confused by the Senate proposal, too, and suggested that the state would have to either raise taxi company fees or use state highway funds to pay for the measure.
But he added that the highway funds might not be available.
The committee finally decided to just approve the budget as recommended by Guinn and deal with SB491 when the Senate sends it over to the Assembly.
If SB491 is passed and signed by the governor, the agencies would have to come back to the lawmakers' Interim Finance Committee to report on their success or failure.
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