Laughlin won’t become a city just yet

There were too many uncertainties for the Clark County Commission.

Too many what ifs.

And now Laughlin will have to wait to become a city.

Commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday against setting an election regarding incorporation because they said it wasn't fiscally feasible or sustainable in this economy.

"We all believe in the right to vote," said Commissioner Steve Sisolak, whose district includes Laughlin. "It's turned into a discussion about that, unfortunately, and it's never been about that."

Sisolak asked county staffers to monitor the issue of fiscal viability and report back to the commission annually.

Figures presented to the commission by Yolanda King, the county's budget and finance director, showed the proposed Laughlin city would start with a $2.2 million to $4.3 million deficit.

The city proposes to create a new City Council, and police and fire departments, or sign mutual public safety agreements with other municipalities.

City revenue would come from property tax rates similar to Boulder City and Mesquite, consolidated taxes and other municipal fees. King presented an 8 percent decline in property taxes projected countywide in fiscal 2013.

The commission was tasked with making the decision after the state Legislative Commission passed on the matter last week. David Floodman, president of the Laughlin Economic Development Corp., which commissioned its own fiscal report, said he was disappointed but not discouraged and expected the issue to be revisited at the next Legislative Commission meeting in March.

"The people involved in this would not be moving it forward if we thought it was going to fail," Floodman said. "We all have too much at stake."

According to the study, the proposed city would need an annual budget of $9.7 million, with $5.7 million of that transferred from the county's consolidated tax funds. The city would have a balanced budget and assume all administrative responsibilities, which could save the county $4.8 million annually.