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Changes to Dillon's Rule would allow Clark County more tax flexibility

Lawmakers discuss change to education funding
Nevada legislature NV seal
2019 Nevada Legislative Session kicks off Monday
2019 Nevada Legislative Session kicks off Monday
2019 Nevada Legislative Session kicks off Monday
2019 Nevada Legislative Session kicks off Monday
2019 Nevada Legislative Session kicks off Monday
Posted at 10:13 PM, Feb 04, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-05 03:03:19-05

CARSON CITY (KTNV) — A Clark County leader would like to make changes to a common law which has required the Nevada state legislature's approval for enacting taxes to pay for projects or other priorities such as education.

"If the powers are not enumerated in the state law to the counties then we can’t do it," said Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom.

"Which is part of the reason we can’t tax ourselves, we have to have authority from the state to tax ourselves," explained Segerblom.

Segerblom said the change in Dillon's Rule would give county leaders more flexibility to pay for things like education at the local level.

“The fact that we can’t do anything without legislative approval and the legislature doesn’t meet that often it really hamstrings us," added Segerblom.

Parent Rebecca Colbert said she wants to see changes to the Nevada plan and would support a move to help Clark County raise tax revenue for education.

“I am an optimist, and I think we can do both," said Colbert.

"I think we do need to change the Nevada Plan first, and if local municipalities want to raise money on her own, for example, the city of Henderson already does in their own small way to fund education, very specifically, in their own community," said Colbert.