Monday, January 03, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Property tax options to be discussed

UNLV hosts daylong conference on Friday

A major issue in this year's Legislature will be property tax increases fueled by rapidly escalating land values. UNLV will host a daylong conference Friday with leading tax experts to discuss the options lawmakers have in confronting the issue. Photo by Jeff Scheid.

One of the hottest topics of 2004 will be the largest item for the Legislature to tackle this year.

But it's still anybody's guess what lawmakers will end up doing about property tax increases fueled by rapidly escalating land values.

Should they cap the increase in assessed value? Freeze rates to last year's? Amend the state constitution to split residential and commercial tax rolls? Or, should they offer discounted rates to specific demographic groups?

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas will host a daylong conference Friday with leading tax experts to discuss options lawmakers here have.

The morning session will be a primer on all things property tax, while the afternoon session is a roundtable discussion about options for Nevada.

Local panelists include Guy Hobbs, chairman of the 2002 Task Force on Tax Policy; longtime local government lobbyist Marvin Leavitt; and Nevada Taxpayers Association President Carole Vilardo.

Some nationally respected policy wonks also will take part in the panel, including:

• Gary Cornia, former president of the National Tax Association and a commissioner on the Utah State Tax Commission. Cornia is now a professor at Brigham Young University's Romney Institute of Public Management.

• Andrew Reschovsky, a former tax analyst for the U.S. Treasury Department and currently an economics professor at the University of Wisconsin's LaFollette School of Public Affairs.

• Howard Chernick, an economics professor at Hunter College of the City University of New York. He is also currently a consultant to South Africa on intergovernmental funding.

The conference is presented by UNLV's Department of Public Administration. A number of chamber businesses and officials associated with local governments, the taxpayers association and the state Legislature were invited.

Carson's blue blood

Maybe the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada should change its name.

In its pitch to raise money for the left-leaning group's legislative lobbying efforts, PLAN decries: "Nevada is a hostile place to be a progressive."

But the powers that be in the state capital apparently aren't the ones stifling the progressives.

PLAN notes: "Our state remains one of the most anti-government, anti-immigrant, anti-working people, anti-environment, anti-gay states in the country. Yet thanks to support in the governor's office and the Legislature, (PLAN) and our allies had significant victories in Carson City in 2003."

In other words, Nevada is a red state, but there's plenty of blue blood coursing through Carson.

Ferraro appointed

Fresh off his defeat in trying to secure a job as a lobbyist for Boulder City, Reno-based lobbyist Greg Ferraro got a new job of sorts from Gov. Kenny Guinn last week.

Ferraro, son of Boulder City Mayor Bob Ferraro, was appointed to the Commission on Judicial Discipline.

The Boulder City Council didn't doubt the younger Ferraro's skills, but were uncomfortable with the relationship, giving it a unanimous thumbs down. Bob Ferraro did not vote on the matter.

Contact political reporter Erin Neff

at 387-2906 or ENeff@reviewjournal.com.