Governor Joe Lombardo has recently approved two significant Southern Nevada tax extensions aimed at maintaining vital funding for police officer salaries and transportation infrastructure projects in Clark County.
On Thursday, the Republican governor signed Assembly Bill 530 and Senate Bill 451, both of which empower local governments to extend existing taxes that support these essential services.
Assembly Bill 530 continues the fuel revenue indexing program for another decade. This indexing process adjusts fuel taxes to meet the growing costs associated with materials and labor in the transportation sector. Proponents of this measure emphasize that extending fuel revenue indexing is crucial to preventing severe funding shortages for the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.
In contrast, Senate Bill 451 renews a 0.2 percent property tax that funds the salaries of over 800 officers in the Metropolitan Police Department. This tax was scheduled to expire in 2027, and its renewal is seen as essential to sustaining law enforcement operations in the region.
Despite the approval of these bills, there has been some dissent regarding the manner in which the tax extensions were enacted. Critics argue that since these taxes were initially passed through ballot measures, they should return to the public for another vote before any extensions are approved.
Interestingly, Governor Lombardo had previously expressed concerns about extending taxes without voter input. In 2023, he vetoed a similar measure to continue fuel revenue indexing, stating at that time that there was adequate opportunity to explore alternative solutions ahead of the 2026 expiration deadline.
However, during this legislative session, the urgency for addressing funding issues appeared more pressing. When discussing the necessity of Assembly Bill 530, Lombardo noted that although the approach taken by the Legislature was not his preferred method, it was essential to ensure critical transportation projects and the jobs tied to them remained intact.
Lombardo emphasized the importance of the fuel revenue indexing program in supporting Southern Nevada’s transportation infrastructure needs. He mentioned that the Clark County Commission could act promptly on this matter through a two-thirds vote as authorized by Assembly Bill 530.
Looking ahead, the governor indicated his intention to propose a statutory amendment that would require all sunset bills to automatically return to the ballot before their expiration dates. Lombardo highlighted that he believes politicians should not solely determine tax extensions; rather, the decision should rest with the voters.
On the topic of Senate Bill 451, Lombardo further articulated that maintaining the property tax is pivotal for ensuring ongoing funding for police officers. He explained that Nevada’s tax structure is designed with caps and abatements, which would mean taxpayers would not pay less if the property tax measure failed.
In fact, he estimated that not passing this legislation could lead to the loss of nearly 25% of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s workforce. The ramifications of such a reduction, he warned, would severely impact public safety for both residents and visitors in Clark County.
In summary, Lombardo stressed that Senate Bill 451 is not introducing a new tax or increasing tax rates, but rather extending a previously voter-approved measure essential for maintaining public safety efforts in Southern Nevada.
A previous version of this story mistakenly provided the incorrect bill number for Senate Bill 451.
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