Clark County seeks public input on gas tax increase

Before commissioners vote on fuel tax increases, Clark County residents have a chance to take a stand.

Anyone from everyday citizens to business owners can weigh in on a proposal that allows the County Commission to raise gas taxes by about 3 cents a gallon for each of the next three years.

If approved by commissioners, the new revenue will fund highway improvements. The increases would rise with the rate of inflation, with the maximum tax increase capped at 7.8 percent annually.

The Clark County Department of Business License will accept the feedback via mail and email until 5 p.m. on July 12 for a business impact statement on the measure.

“The business impact statement process is critically important in allowing the community to be involved in the public policy discussion,” Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown, who serves as chairman of the Regional Transportation Commission, said in a statement. “We encourage all interested parties to submit their comments.”

County officials say the proposed fuel tax increase would allow the Regional Transportation Commission to issue bonds of about $700 million, also creating 10,000 jobs for the highway projects.

Contractors are watching to see what the decision will mean for their industry, with an eye toward the economic benefits.

“Some of our members will be paying the highest prices with the fuel,” said Sean Stewart, executive vice president of the Nevada Contractors Association and the Las Vegas chapter of Associated General Contractors. “They’re major consumers of the fuel. At the same time, it brings a lot of chances for jobs and infrastructure in Southern Nevada.”

Both organizations support the fuel tax increase.

The county’s pending decision is possible because the Legislature this session approved Assembly Bill 413, which allows the fuel tax increase in Clark County. If commissioners approve the measure, it takes effect on Jan. 1 .

There are a couple limits.

If the fuel tax increase is put in place, residents will vote in November 2016 on whether they want to authorize commissioners to put more annual fuel tax increases in place.

Written comments can be mailed to Clark County Department of Business License, Fuel Tax Ordinance, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway, Third Floor, Box 551810, Las Vegas, Nev., 89155-1810. Emailed comments can be sent to bloutreach@clarkcountynv.gov by 5 p.m. July 12.