Stadium room tax

Speaking of stadium plans, a much more promising venture is the UNLVNow stadium project, proposed for the main UNLV campus just east of the Strip.

That estimated $800 million to $900 million project stands a good chance of happening, and could bring huge benefits to the community.

But wide support for the project has been based on boosters' assurances that an on-campus tax district - designed to capture taxes on the sale of food, beverages and retail items at a proposed shopping area - would cover public financing for the proposed 60,000-seat sports and entertainment venue.

Yet mere days before the 2013 Legislature convenes, the boosters provide word that this funding source might not be enough, after all.

Additional funding now proposed for discussion includes a hotel room tax to be imposed across the Las Vegas Valley, officials at UNLV confirmed Monday.

"We have to plan for the contingency of what if the tax increment district doesn't provide adequate funds," said Don Snyder, dean of UNLV's hotel administration college and the university's point man on the stadium.

Las Vegas hotels already collect an average of 12 percent per room-night in taxes. And make no mistake, facing a still fragile economic recovery that already has seen average room rates drop to keep occupancy rates up, higher room taxes or other tourist-focused levies can no longer be assumed to be "invisible" and without consequences.

At this point, with the university hoping to discuss the deal with the Board of Regents at a work session Feb. 22, followed by a regents vote on the project Feb. 28 - it appears not enough private financing has been pledged to fund this project, leading to this late call for additional tax support.

If that's indeed necessary, voters have every right to know how much is being sought, and whether all the developers' cards are now on the table - or whether there are other shoes yet to fall.