taxtalkingpoints

The Committee for the Advancement of Education in Nevada (CAEN) is a coalition of gaming and education leaders making the formal request to place the Room Tax Ballot Advisory Question on the November ballot.

The Room Tax Ballot question is, at this time, advisory only and does not impose any legal requirement on the County Commission or the Nevada Legislature.

The result will serve to advise the Nevada Legislature on whether the majority of the voting public in Clark and Washoe counties support the imposition of a room tax increase to help fund education throughout the state.

Clark and Washoe County Commissioners voted in July to approve placing the room tax question on the November ballot.

The question asks voters if they support increasing the hotel and motel room tax by up to 3 percent in Clark and Washoe counties.

In those locations in the county where the current total room tax rate is equal to or less than 10 percent, the room tax rate would increase by 3 percent.

In those locations in the county where the current total room tax rate is greater than 10 percent, but less than 13 percent, the room tax rate would increase by the difference between the current total room tax rate and the 13 percent maximum rate.

There will be no impact in those locations in the county where the current total room tax rate is equal to or greater than 13 percent.

When placed on the ballot in Clark and Washoe Counties, voters will have the opportunity to advise the Nevada Legislature of their opinion on the matter.

PARTNERSHIP

The Committee for the Advancement of Education in Nevada represents a continuation of the partnership that has long existed among Nevada’s gaming industry and Nevada’s teachers to promote quality education in the classroom.

Through the Committee for the Advancement of Education in Nevada, we can work cooperatively to help address the current budget crisis while improving education in our state.

We are proud to be working in partnership to present a timely and workable solution to help ensure adequate funding so we can attract and retain quality teachers to educate Nevada’s children.

Nevada ranks 49th in per pupil funding. Key members of the gaming industry recognized the problem and demonstrated leadership and a commitment to our community by proposing a solution that will help address our state’s immediate education funding needs.

Once again, members of Nevada’s resort/casino industry have stepped forward proactively to help address the needs of our state.

NEED

Nevada is 49th in per-pupil expenditures and with recent reductions to the state’s education budget due to funding shortfalls we are dangerously on track to fall further own the list. This Room Tax proposal will provide a sorely needed additional revenue source to help provide for our kids’ education.

Nevada public schools have the fourth highest student-teacher ratio out of the 50 states.

Half of all new teachers leave the profession in the first five years…most citing salaries as their major concern.

Our children will not excel in the classroom unless that classroom has a highly qualified and engaged teacher.

The advisory questions in Clark and Washoe counties are key components to bring the issue of increased funding for public education to the 2009 Legislature.

Clearly, Nevada education needs additional funding. The Room Tax Statutory Initiative is one solution to a funding crisis. Initially, the new room tax revenues will be directed to the state to offset the recent revenue shortfall and to avoid large cuts in the budget for the 2009-11 biennium. Beginning with the 2011-13 biennium, the room tax will shift to fund K-12 education, specifically to improve student achievement and shore up educators’ salaries.

This is a companion process to the Advisory Questions that will be voted on by Washoe and Clark County voters that was always considered to be part of the process.

This process will result in a formal proposal being put before the ’09 Legislature. The language will be specific and legislators will have 40 days to act.

Leaders of Nevada’s most important industry and Nevada’s educators have joined together to bring this issue to the legislature. We hope and expect that the legislature will act quickly to enact this initiative to support our schools.

If the legislature, for whatever reason, doesn’t act on the initiative within 40 days we are confident that the overwhelming public support that has been expressed for this issue will be displayed at the ballot box in 2010.

We intend to engage in a comprehensive and extensive campaign that will educate and inform voters about the initiative and the importance and logic of this solution. While we have not yet encountered any severe opposition we will be ready for a vigorous debate.