Sales Tax to Fund Water Projects Extended in Las Vegas Region

"A quarter-cent sales tax raising $100 million annually for water and wastewater projects will remain in place indefinitely following a decision Tuesday by the Clark County Commission," reports Kelcie Grega.

"The tax, which was approved by voters by a significant margin in 1998, has raised more than $1.4 billion over the last two decades," adds Grega. "The 6-1 vote removes a sunset clause that would have made the tax expire in 2025."

That $1.4 billion in funding has contributed to projects like new treatment facilities, debt service for North Las Vegas’ water reclamation facility, and debt service for a waterline connecting Boulder City to the River Mountains Water Treatment Plant. No mention of future plans for the funding are mentioned in the article.

Opponents of the sales tax criticize the regressive burden of the sales tax on low-income residents of the county. According got a another article, by Shea Johnson, on the same subject, County Commissioner Tick Segerblom voted against lifting the sunset clause of the sales tax, "arguing that the tax was tantamount to subsidizing water rates, which doesn’t promote conservation, and the money could be better used elsewhere."