(Danielle Gallant) – Assembly Joint Resolution 1 (AJR1) is a perfect example of misaligned objectives between local governments and the people. The resolution would change how Nevada calculates property taxes, resulting in more than $13 billion in increased revenue over several years.
That $13 billion would be on the backs of every homeowner, renter or homebuyer in the state.
In very simple math, it is estimated that there are about 1.3 million taxable properties in Nevada, meaning on average property owners would see an increase of $10,000 per property over several year. Now obviously, not all properties are valued the same, so the actual amount would vary greatly from property to property. However, how many of us can comfortably absorb any property tax increase over $1000 per year in this current inflationary economy?
AJR 1 is a dumpster fire, no doubt! However, it would have to go to a vote of the people, and I have faith that the people would vote this down.
What was shocking during the hearing was that every local government testified in support of this. But why?
Simply put, AJR1 means more money for local government agencies, and those dollar signs were all they could see. Blinded by greed, one by one, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, Las Vegas, Clark County, Washoe County, and the various consortiums, all filed in to support this bill with little concern over what it would do to the very people they are supposed to represent, protect, and serve.
The local governments did not care that we would see an uptick in foreclosures, increases to rental prices, and an even greater financial barrier to homeownership. All they could see were dollar signs, and so they put aside any pretense of representing the very people they are supposed to serve.
Our tax dollars are being used against us. Each local government is funded by us, and yet,each local government hires in-house Government Affairs positions to lobby the legislature. And the sole focus of those in-house lobbyists isn’t to advance the interests of voters, taxpayers or constituents — it’s to promote what’s “best” for the government or public agency that hired them.
What’s the solution to this government-first mentality in Carson City? Should Local Governments be banned from having representation in the capitol? Due to us being a Dillon’s Rule state, that might not be practical. Should we vote our council members out? Maybe, but not necessarily for this reason.
Even if voters decided on new representation on the local level, it still wouldn’t even solve the problem. Council members already come and go, but the staff at the local municipalities remain in place for decades. They run the bureaucracies, they advocate for their continued employment and, ultimately, they don’t answer directly to the voters they’re ostensibly serving.
How do we align the interests of local governments, public agencies and we the people in such a system?
It’s an honest question, and as an assemblywoman I would love to hear your ideas. It’s going to be a difficult problem to solve, but something needs to be done before we the people, get royally screwed.
