County protests state tax grab, OKs budget

Clark County commissioners approved a $1.3 billion general fund budget today but not before decrying a state proposal to take an estimated $30.4 million from the county’s coffers.

A bill gaining steam in the Legislature would allow the state to take almost 10 percent of county property taxes used to pay for services such as courts, child welfare, juvenile justice and health care for the poor, county officials say.

Assembly Bill 543 would compound a $113 million shortfall that the county plugged by trimming costs and pulling money from the general fund reserve.

Commissioners complained that the bill would not require major cities such as Las Vegas to chip in. They voted unanimously on a resolution to oppose the measure.

“There were many reasons to object to it,” County Commissioner Rory Reid said. “We thought it was not good policy to divert (tax money) rather than solve the state’s budget problems.”

Contact reporter Scott Wyland at swyland@reviewjournal.com 702-455-4519.