The Facts about the Tax
The improving economy is fueling an increase in sales tax revenues. That, combined with ongoing business expansions in Carson City, had allowed the Board of Supervisors to lower the property tax rate. We lowered the property tax rate by $.02/$100 of assessed value in 2014. Doesn’t sound like much, and some criticized it as a political ploy, but in reality we can only lower it in small increments or we jeopardize placing too large a deficit in the General Fund budget.
Over time, if we continue to lower the rate by $.02-$.03 per $100 of assessed value per year, we can get back to the pre-recession rate. That’s great news for property owners. Lowering taxes is always difficult and if the way to get there is to take small steps, I intend to advocate for lower rather than higher property taxes.
As to the 1/8th cent sales tax; it was at the forefront of the fall campaigns and has been criticized by some. However, the money it will raise will deliver a lot of bang for the buck. Our community will get: a new state of the art animal shelter; the long-awaited MAC; major corridor infrastructure improvements to Hwy 50 East, North and South Carson Streets, and downtown. For our citizens it is a small added expense, but for our community it is a significant investment in our future.
All in all, I am very optimistic about the direction the city is headed for both the short and the long-term. It’s easy to criticize tax implementation. I’ve enjoyed serving as your Ward 2 Supervisor for two years now, and as a small-business owner I am definitely opposed to increased taxes. As a city leader, I have an obligation to the citizens to ensure that our toilets flush, clean water comes out of the tap, we meet federal clean water standards for our effluent, our roads are drivable, emergency services can meet the needs of the community, our community’s animal and indigent populations are properly cared for…. and more. All of this has to be accomplished with tax dollars.
Taxes are unavoidable, so the question is “How should we BEST spend tax dollars?” That is the driving question behind every decision I make as part of the Board of Supervisors.
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