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Friday, November 03, 2000
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: Public safety questions

The cities of Henderson and Las Vegas are asking residents to approve higher property taxes in order to provide additional public safety services.

Henderson's Question 1 seeks voter permission to increase property taxes by about $84 a year on a $100,000 home, generating an estimated $786 million over the next three decades. City officials say the money will allow them to hire 166 police officers, 30 firefighters and paramedics, and 41 support staff personnel.

Las Vegas Question 1 asks residents to increase property taxes by about $33 a year on a $100,000 home, raising more than $551 million over the next 30 years. The city will use the money to build four new fire stations, renovate three existing stations, replace the city's entire firefighting fleet, and hire 96 fire and rescue workers.

Clearly, the Las Vegas measure is more urgent. Henderson officials admit that even if their proposal doesn't pass, growth there will generate enough revenue to allow them to maintain current service levels -- but not enough to "get ahead." Henderson voters have been generous in their support of tax increases to fund more parks, so perhaps they won't bat an eye here. We believe, however, a more modest proposal would have been preferable. We recommend a no vote.

In Las Vegas, however, service has been deteriorating. Response times have increased by close to 30 percent in recent years. The city's population and land area have grown dramatically over the past decade, yet Las Vegas hasn't added a single new fire station in the same period. The bond issue is a reasonable attempt to catch up. We urge a yes vote.