Nevada sales tax rate hike possible

Nevada sales tax rate may increase

Training Video from the LVMPD. A sales tax increase has enabled the academy to reopen. (Photo: LVMPD Protect the City)

The current Nevada sales tax rate  in Clark County may climb by .15% if Clark Country Commissioners vote in favor of the approval.

Currently, the tax rate for Clark County is 8.1%.  That figure is comprised of 6.850% for the Nevada State tax plus the Clark County Tax of 1.250%.

The proposed .15% increase would bring the total sales tax in Clark Country to 8.25%.

Nevada ranks among the states with the highest tax rates in the country, according to a survey released last year by the Tax Foundation.  Including  local sales taxes, those from Nevada, on average, pay a 7.93 percent rate.

The Nevada economy is still feeling the effects of high unemployment and foreclosures so what is the tax rate hike for and is a tax rate hike really necessary?

The proposed Nevada sales tax increase is slated to be used for the Metro Police department.

According to News 3, Sheriff Doug Gilepsie, has said that the Nevada sales tax hike for Clark County would allow his department to retain 250 officers positions that are currently on the chopping block and to add approximately 100 more officer positions in the upcoming years.

Of course, it is important to retain these important positions within the Las Vegas Metro Police Department (LVMPD), however recent events seem to indicate that this is already a done deal and that the vote scheduled for this Tuesday is, in essence, the Clark County Commissioners just going through the process of an already agreed upon and acted upon deal.

It would be very surprising if there is not a majority vote.

The LVMPD had graduated their last class in January 2012 and then, due to financial reasons, has not had another academy since.

The new metro police academy, however, has already reopened in July of this year and has already began the recruitment process so they seem to be quite sure that the funds will follow.

Let me be clear, current and future positions in law enforcement are extremely important to the survival of our city and it is wonderful that the process has started again and that many officers who were on the chopping block will have their positions retained.

With that said, it is irresponsible and misleading to “suggest” that a Nevada sales tax rate hike is possible when it is something that has already been worked out politically and appears to be a done deal.

It’s an insult to the general public’s intelligence to suggest otherwise.

If you would like to express your opinion to any of the Clark County Commissioners, this page will enable you to click through and find a contact link.

To see how much the tax hike will cost you, check out the tax calculator.

(Note: on January 21, 2014, the Clark County Commission rejected tax hike for more police)

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