By:  Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President

The 800 lb “T” word didn’t actually come out of the corner at the first meeting of the Nevada Senate Taxation Committee, but chairman Senator Bob Coffin didn’t mince words in sending the clear signal that the name on the committee door means what the name implies.  He said that it would be a good idea for “everyone” to plan on coming to the Taxation Committee meetings and be prepared to have candid, point-blank discussions about generating the funds necessary to finance the level of government spending the money committees determined to be required.

He held up a box labeled as NIMBY to demonstrate that the “Not In My Back Yard” approach to taxation wasn’t going to be accepted as the legislators worked their way through whatever tax ideas might surface.  “Everything is on the table” he said and he wasn’t going to allow for others in the Legislative Building to take over the decision process that he considers being the rightful territory of the Taxation Committees (Senate and Assembly).

Over the past few sessions Senator Coffin has been frustrated over not having the ability to advance the discussion of whether tax increases warranted consideration as well as exploring, through a public exchange, avenues for the best ways to acquire all sectors’ due.

Over his history of legislative experience, Senator Coffin has been a champion of providing the platform for full public discourse. 

Whether you agree or not, the ability to have a no-holds barred discussion is going to be necessary, regardless of the outcome.  Starting that conversation early will much better serve the public interest than holding it back for the last minute when only those who can’t duck get taken to the shed for extraction.

Perhaps policy and principle should have something to do with setting a course for how taxation will be carried out.

Arbitrarily taking revenue (or redirecting it) from local government entities is not a fair approach and shouldn’t be the approach selected.

There seems to be something of a growing consensus for giving all citizens the opportunity to contribute (as in the form of a sales tax increase or something along these lines), but whether those legs can travel will have to be determined. 

Given the “encouragement” of Chairman Coffin, our schedule for Tuesday and Thursday afternoons seem scheduled until the first part of June.