If there’s one thing most of us can agree on, it’s that we want safe neighborhoods. And yes, that means having enough police officers on the street.
But there’s a right way—and a wrong way—to pay for it.
Right now, lawmakers in Carson City are considering Senate Bill 451, which would extend a “temporary” property tax voters approved back in 1996.
The tax, a 20-cent charge on every $100 of assessed property value, was sold to the public as a short-term way to fund more cops in Las Vegas and Clark County.
That tax was supposed to expire in 2027. But if SB451 passes, it won’t.
Instead of letting voters decide whether to keep it, lawmakers want to extend it another 30 years—until 2057—and let the county commission approve it without a vote of the people.
Let that sink in.
From Temporary to Permanent—Without Your Say
The only reason this tax was approved in the first place was because voters were told it was temporary. Now, the same voters are being cut out of the process.
Supporters of the bill claim it’s not a “tax increase” since the rate isn’t going up. But that’s just political word games.
If the tax is set to go away and you vote to keep it, that’s blocking a tax cut. People will be paying more than they otherwise would. That’s an increase in anyone’s book.
This isn’t just a budget issue—it’s a trust issue.
Jefferson Warned Us About This
Believe it or not, this fight isn’t new. Founding Father Thomas Jefferson warned about this exact kind of government behavior. In a 1789 letter to James Madison, he wrote:
“The earth belongs… to the living… no generation has the right to bind another.”
He even said that imposing taxes or debts on people who didn’t agree to them was “an act of force, and not of right.”
That’s exactly what’s happening here.
If voters in 1996 approved the tax, it should be voters in 2026 who decide whether to keep it—not a handful of county officials or state legislators.
The Political Game Behind the Tax Push
Here’s what’s really going on behind the scenes:
The bill’s sponsor, Democrat Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, is planning on running for Attorney General in 2026.
So she’s looking for a way to “buy off” law enforcement supporters with our tax dollars – just like Joe Biden tried to do with student loan cancellations.
In addition, Democrats in the Legislature – who never met a tax they wouldn’t hike – are pushing this bill knowing full well that if the decision went to the voters it would be a roll of the dice.
Right now, only 34% of Clark County voters are registered Democrats. But six out of seven members on the Clark County Commission—the folks who’d get the final say under SB451—are Democrats.
That’s 86% Democrat control, deciding for a county that’s only one-third Democrat.
Letting the commission decide makes it a sure thing. Putting it on the ballot? Not so much.
And while Republicans are generally opposed to extending taxes without a strong, justifiable reason, this bill would take that decision completely out of voters’ hands—even though they’re the ones paying the bill.
It’s a political shortcut dressed up as fiscal responsibility. But what it really does is shut out the public and let one political party make the call for the next three decades.
There Is a Better Way
Now, let’s be clear: Nobody’s saying police funding isn’t important. We all want more officers on the street and faster 911 response times.
But if Clark County really needs the money, why not cut back on non-essential government spending instead of sneaking in a decades-long tax extension?
Here’s what they’re not telling you: The County has plenty of money. It just isn’t being spent wisely.
Clark County’s own 2025 budget shows billions going to things that aren’t urgent. Just a few examples:
- $271 million for new park upgrades and splash pads
- $634 million for county building remodels and office construction
- $215 million for technology upgrades—not for public safety, but for internal departments
- $56 million for climate-related outreach programs
- $68 million for air quality media and planning projects
- $64 million from opioid settlements that isn’t going directly to treatment or enforcement
Altogether, there’s over $1.8 billion in what most people would consider “nice-to-have” spending. All the County needs to keep 800 police officers on the job is $155 million.
That’s less than 10% of what’s being spent on extras. Now let’s drill down a little deeper…
1.) $51.5 Million for Air Quality PR and Planning Projects
Total FY25 Budget: $59.4 million
While clean air matters, over $51 million of this fund is set aside just for “Services and Supplies”—a line item so vague it could include anything from PR consultants and mailers to public messaging campaigns and software systems
That’s nearly one-third of the police funding shortfall, wrapped into a program that produces no direct service to residents and minimal measurable public impact.
2.) $271 Million for Parks and Rec Upgrades
Total FY25 Budget: $271 million
This includes a $10 million line item just for supplies, with the rest going toward capital projects.
That’s more than a quarter of a billion dollars being used to build or upgrade amenities like sports fields, community gyms, and landscaping—even as basic public safety remains underfunded.
While parks are important, voters would likely prioritize patrol officers over splash pads.
3.) $38.7 Million for “Environmental & Sustainability” Services
Total FY25 Budget: $51.3 million
In this fund, nearly $39 million is set aside for unspecified “services and supplies.” This isn’t for solar panels or water conservation. It’s essentially soft spending on things like reports, workshops, administrative outreach, and possibly contracts with green consulting firms.
For context, this fund alone could cover about 200–250 police officers—yet it’s being used to advance broad environmental messaging, not public safety.
4.) $66.2 Million for Rec Center Upgrades
FY25 Budget: $66,259,813
Clark County is spending over $66 million just this year on recreation improvements—things like new basketball courts, park benches, water features, and similar projects.
While recreation is nice to have, this much money during a public safety crunch is hard to justify. Many of these projects are in addition to the $271 million already set aside under a different parks fund.
5.) $130.9 Million on Tech “Services & Supplies”
FY25 Budget: $130,894,078
Over $130 million is being spent on vague IT services and supplies. That’s on top of another $84.6 million for “capital outlay.”
For perspective, Clark County is spending more on tech support and hardware upgrades than it would cost to fully fund 800 police officers for the year.
This is ripe for an audit or slowdown.
6.) $61 Million in Opioid Settlement Capital Outlay
FY25 Budget: $61,149,105
Instead of using opioid settlement funds directly for treatment, enforcement, or prevention, Clark County is putting over $61 million toward capital projects.
That likely means office space, administrative systems, or long-term builds that do little to help addicts or law enforcement today.
Reprioritize, Don’t Raise
So the problem isn’t that there aren’t areas to reduce or cut spending; it’s that nobody wants to make the hard decisions about spending. They see a “small” tax hike as more politically palatable.
This is the part that’s hard for Democrats to accept: Sometimes you have to do what families do every day. Tighten the belt. Cut back on luxuries. Focus on the essentials.
If your household was short on cash, you’d pause the new backyard project or delay the kitchen remodel. You wouldn’t stop paying the mortgage or feeding the kids.
That’s common sense. Government should do the same.
And if lawmakers really believe this tax extension is needed, then put it back on the ballot.
Let the people decide—just like they did in 1996.
Here’s a Reasonable Solution
If the Legislature insists on extending the tax now, fine. But do it for a shorter time—say two or three years—while cities and counties look for ways to cut waste and reprioritize.
Give public safety agencies time to come up with a sustainable plan that doesn’t rely on long-term tax extensions.
And during that window? Start preparing a ballot question. Respect the voters enough to let them weigh in before 2057 rolls around.
This isn’t just about money. It’s about honesty and accountability.
When government says a tax is temporary, it should mean it. When voters are promised a say, they should get one.
SB451 may look like a small change on paper, but it sets a dangerous precedent. It tells the public: “We can promise one thing… and deliver something else.”
Lawmakers should vote NO unless the bill is changed. Either shorten the extension or put it on the ballot.
Because when it comes to taxes—especially ones that last 30 years—the people paying the bill deserve the final say.
