Governor Joe Lombardo of Nevada has signed two key tax extensions into law, targeting revenue for police salaries and road infrastructure in Clark County. The legislation, Assembly Bill 530 and Senate Bill 541, allows local governments to maintain existing taxes that fund transportation and law enforcement.
Assembly Bill 530 extends fuel revenue indexing for ten years, ensuring transportation funding keeps pace with rising costs. Proponents argue this prevents a significant funding shortfall for the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada. Senate Bill 541 renews a 0.2 percent property tax, which was set to expire in 2027, to support the salaries of over 800 officers in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Although Lombardo previously opposed similar measures, citing concerns about bypassing public votes, he acknowledged the urgency of the funding needs. He expressed a preference for returning such extensions to public ballots in the future and mentioned exploring statutory amendments to mandate this process.
Lombardo emphasized that the property tax extension is crucial for maintaining police staffing levels and public safety, noting that without it, the LVMPD could lose nearly a quarter of its force. He reassured that this extension does not constitute a new tax or increase, but rather sustains existing public safety funding.