http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/nevada/eureka/ Eureka, NV News http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/nevada/eureka/content/a43a50441196a0354484db80f05a31d5.html Editorial: Gaining public's trust 7152008Lobbyists flout disclosure rules in talks withcommissioners 6132008Lobbyists paid by Clark County sometimes workagainst it 712008Clark County CommissionThe dynamic duo that two years ago fought to scale back the green building tax breaks are gearing up for what could be an even bigger war one that will pit the Legislature against Clark County and city halls across the stateThe legislators are questioning tax breaks and other favors local governments give businesses in the name of attracting development Assemblywomen Marilyn Kirkpatrick DLas Vegas and Debbie Smith DSparks worry that many of the breaks unnecessarily deprive government of vital revenueLocal governments are not happy with us right now said Kirkpatrick who carries her findings around in a 2inch thick binder She said taxpayers might be better served if the state were to lay down guidelines for local governments to bring uniformity to the way tax abatements and other development tools are usedAs an example of the arrangements they question Kirkpatrick referred to Las Vegas recent sale of taxpayerowned land to the redeveloper of the Lady Luck The City Council agreed to sell downtown land to the owners of the Lady Luck for about 25 million despite appraisals of 52 million to 608 million The cutrate sale came despite the citys own consultant arguing that the incentive was not necessaryWe just dont want to be giving away the farm Kirkpatrick said We need a clear picture of what were giving away whats working and what revenues were not collecting as a resultTo that end she and Smith will introduce a bill in the 2009 Legislature to make various changes regarding sales tax and revenue bondsThey have also asked the Legislative Counsel Bureau the research arm of the Legislature for an indepth examination of tax exemptions written into state lawThe duos efforts stem from a eureka moment they had after the 2007 legislative session Smith said During the four months of the session during which they went toetotoe against casino lobbyists they learned just how much casinos and other businesses stood to earn in tax rebates as a result ofconstructing more energy efficient and environmentally friendly buildings In the case of the 92 billion CityCenter project for instance it was estimated that for every 1 put into green construction the developer reaped up to 3 in tax rebatesIt made us start thinking about what else is out there that we dont necessarily have a good handle on said Smith reached Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention in Denver What can we do to improve the abatement and exemption system so that we make sure its the best policyThe greentax debacle of 2007 brought to light another unintended backlash to sales tax exemptions Smith said Nevadas public schools are funded in large part by sales taxes When that revenue lags the state is required by law to make up the public school systems shortfallYet neither schools nor the state has any say in decisions of the local municipalities that can grant sales tax exemptions to developers and businessesAnd I think we need to look at that we need to link the decisions of those governments to the entities that are impacted by those decisions Smith saidThe states 1 billion budget deficit is spurring this pushIf local governments are spending or giving up taxpayer dollars on business incentives thats money the state is often asked to make up Smith and Kirkpatrick saidThe same rationale is behind Kirkpatricks plan to try to pass a bill that would prevent local governments and any other statefunded entity from hiring professionals to lobby state government for themLobbyists are as common in Carson City during the legislative session as are slots in a Vegas convenience storeKirkpatrick argues that local governments dont need to hire outside lobbyists because they have their own lobbyists on their staffsMy whole thing is I want to know what the lobbyists are doing to earn their pay she said Do governments really need to spend 10000 or 5000 a month on someone when the Legislature is not in sessionShe cited a report by the Nevada Policy Research Institute that said local governments and other similarly statefunded entities in Nevada spent 79 million in 2007 on lobbyistsAnd thats just the tip of the iceberg Kirkpatrick saidKirkpatrick added that organizations such as the Nevada League of Cities and the Nevada Association of Counties also lobby for local governmentsAdditionally Kirkpatrick noted a state law enacted in 2007 allows counties to introduce only four pieces of legislation and cities two pieces per session So do they really need all those lobbyists up there Carson CityClark County Manager Virginia Valentine said much of the work lobbyists do in Carson City is defensive meaning they must keep track of bills other people introduce and work to defeat them if they run counter to their clients interests She said county lobbyists tracked about 1000 bills whose enactment could have affected Clark County during the 2007 legislative sessionAt least one lobbyist thinks the Kirkpatrick and Smith examination is good government While defending his role as a lobbyist for the Nevada Higher Education System because of his specialized knowledge of all things regarding the Legislature including the policies process and players Josh Griffin said he understands what Kirkpatrick is trying to doClearly in these difficult budget times when youre talking about public money you have to have these kinds of discussions said Griffin a former state assemblyman who in 2007 lobbied for both Clark County and the higher education system He remains on the payroll of the higher education system which paid his firm Griffin Crowley Group 230000 from September 2005 through Aug 31 2008Griffin added that he doubts any lobbyist would testify against Kirkpatricks bill Id hope the people who hire us would do that he saidIn fact higher education Chancellor Jim Rogers said outside lobbyists understand the Legislature far better than anybody in the system because they represent a whole bunch of different clientsHe added that fulltime employees of the higher education system who lobby do all right as long as theyre pitching our product But it helps to have a lobbyist who works for and understands other interestsWe use them to tell us what are going to be the upcoming issues whats going to be lined up and lets talk to legislators about those things Rogers said adding that he uses them to participate in the writing of his weekly memos used since midsummer to rip into the governor while shedding light on how state budget cuts could affect educationAnother lobbyist who spoke on the condition of anonymity expressed shock at Kirkpatricks idea The lobbyist wondered whether it would even be legal given the fact that local governments also hire outside auditors accountants and lawyers to handle matters even if they have those professionals on staffKirkpatrick said other professionals hired by local governments are also on her radarBut weve got to start somewhere and right now its with lobbyists she said Right now those are the ones I believe are being paid the mostOne former legislator who will not be upset if outside lobbyists go away is Clark County Commissioner Chris GiunchiglianiI dont think we need to spend on lobbying she said We can do just as well with our staff or elected officials We have talented staff here; we have a governmental affairs department Why are we hiring outside to lobby for usThe lobbyist restriction has some early support from several state lawmakersSen Bob Beers a Las Vegas Republican said On any given day half the lobbyists in Carson City are from government with their credit cards outHe sees the growth of publicly funded lobbyists as a natural outcome of Nevadas having maintained an iron grip on the formation and operation of local governmentAnd so you have lots of lobbyists up there when they want to get something changed he saidHes not against banning these hired guns he added but only if it goes hand in hand with giving local governments more self determination That sounds like a good idea to meWhich means Beers isnt so sure hed go along with tightening the screws on local governments ability to offer tax and other incentives to businesses they are trying to wooIt seems conflicting that on one hand were going to limit lobbying abilities but then youre going to come behind and second guess all the decisions theyve made in granting tax incentives in order to increase taxable salesSen Terry Care a Las Vegas Democrat applauded Kirkpatricks lobbying initiative saying its something Ive pondered for some timeWhy should a taxpayer see his or her dollars lobby for a position that he or she may not agree with he saidAnd what if he wondered a lobbyist hired by a government has a conflict with that government Last session for instance Griffin was hired by both Clark County and MGM Mirage Over time the two came to loggerheads with MGM Mirage pitching to keep its greentax rebates and the county arguing to decrease themThere is other evidence that Kirkpatricks lobbyist idea could get broadbased support The Senate Legislative Operations and Elections Committee chaired by Republican Sen Barb Cegavske of Las Vegas has asked for a similar bill to be drafted The difference is that Cegavskes bill would restrict the hiring of lobbyists by state agencies not local governmentsCegavske said Wednesday that she and other legislators dont want any taxpayer dollars spent on lobbyistsWhat we believe is that we need people who actually know the information to come to committees and tell us she said We dont want somebody just trying to get something through for a client and they dont understand the informationCare added that he would be very interested to see what Smith and Kirkpatricks research reveals about incentives and tax exemptions or rebates awarded by local governmentsOne thing I know about those two theyre very thorough so Ill certainly be paying attention to what they sayKirkpatrick hopes local governments pay attention tooFlipping through her binder she points to empty folders designated to hold information from Elko Ely Fallon and a host of other local governments She sent all of them copies of a letter on July 15 asking for information about how they award incentives and how much they have awarded Most have not respondedI just hope they know when it comes time to start talking about this those that havent participated are not going to be asked to the table for their opinion she said http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/nevada/eureka/content/9251fc21f8b94d52be11168cee27963c.html ELKO Wally Cuchine is an avid art collector and a huge fan of the history and culture of rural Nevada http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/nevada/eureka/content/11a3f114d7b846f683384e9366a6783a.html The school board delayed decisions Aug 19 on two individual bus contracts for students living in remote parts of White Pine County When the board reconsiders the contracts Sept 2 those students could be mandated to attend school in Ely as opposed to Elko or Eureka counties http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/nevada/eureka/content/6efdb1cc11b656c0e9c4eb8b648df886.html This time rural Nevada isnt looking so red on its face http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/nevada/eureka/content/4f6155befc9cbf76de55aad98a5db4db.html ELKO Nevada's unemployment rate increased to 66 percent but Elko's micropolitan area is still the lowest in the state at 4 percent http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/nevada/eureka/content/0e43f76b3a79a5df87c3c85f929ff713.html Small casinos keep it simple friendly http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/nevada/eureka/content/362f5d839fe3da40b716905cd1173ee3.html Ambulance service experiencing bumpy ride http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/nevada/eureka/content/ddb84038e17f0fca975a90e9004fc356.html ELKO General Moly addressed one of its most significant concerns Tuesday as it moves forward on the Mt Hope molybdenum mine near Eureka housing for future employees