Candidate sues over property assessments
CARSON CITY -- Clark County businessman Brent Howard has filed a lawsuit against the governor, two state boards and the Clark County assessor's office that alleges the taxes assessed on properties he owns were not made in accordance with the Nevada Constitution.
Howard, who is running as an independent candidate for county assessor, is challenging tax assessments made by the assessor last year on five properties he owns. The Board of Equalization in December upheld values for four of those properties.
In the lawsuit, Howard calls for the removal of Gov. Jim Gibbons for failing to direct the Nevada Tax Commission and the state Board of Equalization to follow state laws on property assessments.
A bookkeeping business owner, Howard filed the 34-page lawsuit Tuesday in Clark County District Court and acted as his own lawyer.
He states in the lawsuit that assessors must adjust values of comparable property throughout the state to the same taxable values. He said that under the state constitution, there must be a "uniform and equal rate of assessment and taxation" for all property.
