By:  Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President

The sticker-shock might take you back a bit, but the proposal by one group of Nevada folks who want to see Nevada’s direction include greater tax revenues and enhanced ability for state spending, is good to get out in the open for public scrutiny. 

Not everybody is going to see living within your current means as an option which they would agree with and the more public discussion of the merits or shortcomings of various ideas…the better.   As we see from this report by Reno Gazette Journal political reporter Anjeanette Damonon,  the concerns we’ve expressed as the feeling of someone having business enterprises in their cross-hairs, was not an unfounded worry.

The important response to this proposal is for citizens to use it as a platform for communications with their elected representatives.  Those legislators who want to consider this idea as a legitimate approach should be contacted to explain consequences for selecting this option.  Legislators who believe that holding the line is the way to go, need to be contacted as well, possibly with suggestions or recommendations on how that strategy can be carried out.

What About A Sales Tax Increase?

Although we’re not interested in championing the notion that taxes should be raised, our review of what’s been offered so far has been a little slim on the number of those who will be “contributors”  and who supposedly should be reaching to pay more.  An increase in the state sales tax would reach into everyone’s pocket, to the extent that they make purchases.

We understand the arguments that this approach hurts lower income people more, but we would counter that since food at the grocery store isn’t part of the taxable items…those who might not have resources to be out buying other stuff, aren’t going to be required to pay for things they need more than anyone else.

The consideration of getting everyone involved in the tax-paying activity will also help cool the jets of those who think that the source of funds is so easy for the taking.  Maybe if the legislators who believe that more revenue and more spending is connected to people who will be stepping into voting booths at some point down the road, they might evaluate differently their “mandate” to do the right thing for the future of  Nevada.