LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – You could be paying higher taxes on a lot of things you buy if one Clark County leader has their way. He says doing so would help solve a huge problem in the valley: homelessness. The idea was met with a wave of opposition Tuesday.
At the Clark County Commission meeting, Commission Chair Tick Segerblom began the discussion of raising sales tax in Clark County by one eighth of one percent. He said all the money raised would solely be used to address homelessness.
“I personally think it is time to step up and generate some more money…In my district, I can tell you it has become an overwhelming problem and I’m not sure if the population is going up but it’s getting much worse… We cannot allow these camps to exist… it has become unacceptable,” Segerblom contended.
Segerblom is leading the charge to raise more money to address homelessness in Clark County, money he says will not be coming from the federal or state level.
“With respect to the money itself, the eight cents sales tax is for every eight dollars you spend, and it doesn’t include food, housing, or drugs, for every eight dollars you spend it would cost one cent,” Segerblom explained.
While Segerblom believes his constituents would support the additional tax, other commissioners spoke out against it despite all acknowledging the growing homeless crisis.
“Our sales tax is already awfully high…We don’t need nor do we want to do anything that would make it more difficult for everybody,” Commissioner Jim Gibson argued.
“If I believed a cent on eight dollars would solve all of the problems that everybody eloquently laid out today, I’d consider it, but I’m not convinced of that,” shared Commissioner Michael Naft.
And all speakers during public comment also voiced opposition to any increase in the county’s sales tax.
“The [Vegas] Chamber is opposed to any increase in taxes without a clear plan for the allocation of these additional funds,” stated Nick Schneider, Director of Government Affairs for the Vegas Chamber.
“While 1/8th of a percent may not seem like a lot, for people who are living paycheck to paycheck, it is something that is going to exacerbate the problem,” suggested Andrew MacKay, Executive Director of the Nevada Franchise Auto Dealers Association.
The Retail Association of Nevada shared a statement with FOX5 in opposition:
“It would further strain the budgets of hardworking residents and families. Reaching into the pockets of residents with a tax increase now will harm our most vulnerable community members. We strongly urge the commissioners to stand with their constituents and reject this proposal.”
No action was taken by the commissioners during the meeting, it was only a discussion. There would have to be at least two more public meetings on raising the sales tax before it could happen.
Raising sales taxes to address homelessness is something being done elsewhere in the country. Voters in Los Angeles just approved a half cent sales tax.
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