Laughlin won't become a city just yet

There were too many uncertainties for the Clark County Commission.

Too many what ifs.

And now Laughlin will have to wait to become a city.

Commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday against setting an election regarding incorporation because they said it wasn't fiscally feasible or sustainable in this economy.

"We all believe in the right to vote," said Commissioner Steve Sisolak, whose district includes Laughlin. "It's turned into a discussion about that, unfortunately, and it's never been about that."

Sisolak asked county staffers to monitor the issue of fiscal viability and report back to the commission annually.

Figures presented to the commission by Yolanda King, the county's budget and finance director, showed the proposed Laughlin city would start with a $2.2 million to $4.3 million deficit.

The city proposes to create a new City Council, and police and fire departments, or sign mutual public safety agreements with other municipalities.

City revenue would come from property tax rates similar to Boulder City and Mesquite, consolidated taxes and other municipal fees. King presented an 8 percent decline in property taxes projected countywide in fiscal 2013.

The commission was tasked with making the decision after the state Legislative Commission passed on the matter last week. David Floodman, president of the Laughlin Economic Development Corp., which commissioned its own fiscal report, said he was disappointed but not discouraged and expected the issue to be revisited at the next Legislative Commission meeting in March.

"The people involved in this would not be moving it forward if we thought it was going to fail," Floodman said. "We all have too much at stake."

According to the study, the proposed city would need an annual budget of $9.7 million, with $5.7 million of that transferred from the county's consolidated tax funds. The city would have a balanced budget and assume all administrative responsibilities, which could save the county $4.8 million annually.

Trending topics:

• Clark County Commission
• Kristi Jourdan
• Laughlin incorporation
• Steve Sisolak

Comments

Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

1. Oscar.Jones Feb. 22, 2012 | 10:35 p.m. Report Abuse

   Laughlin doesn't have enough Crime to be a City. Lets send Harry Reid there to designate it a Sanctuary Township, so they can get enough ILLEGALS there to increase Crime, Entitlements, and Drunk Drivers. The place hardly has ANY Grafitti, or constantly Barking Pitbulls. They want to be a City? Where you gonna put the Ghetto? And the underperforming Schools? (Usually in the Ghetto). These questions need to be addressed, if they want to be taken seriously.

2. david.henry Feb. 22, 2012 | 5:55 a.m. Report Abuse

   Just look at the numbers from 2-14 to today. What is it, a budget of 9.7 mil or 11 mil. Usual smoke and mirrors, numbers not matching, who really knows?
   I would still think the citizens and the Casino owners would want to be involved. (What other city of that size has that many casinos.) It would help to bring that valley closer, I would think. Work together. The thing I know, you don't treat a property a 100 miles away the same as you treat a property close by.

3. All American Feb. 22, 2012 | 3:59 a.m. Report Abuse

   @USD,CA 2000, I take offense with your comment ! I write as many tickets as I can on Needles Hwy and SR-163 in order to keep the driving public safe! Just doin' my job !

4. Raoul.N.Stone Feb. 21, 2012 | 4:46 p.m. Report Abuse

   If you want to see the proceedings for yourself, go to the Clark County website (http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/), click on the "Meeting Agendas" link in the upper right, and then scroll down to find the video. It was item #73 on the agenda

5. RIVER Feb. 21, 2012 | 4:15 p.m. Report Abuse

   After todays vote, I AM SICK! How Sisolak can write a letter supporting the bill and to get the right to vote just a week and a half ago and then go back on his word shows EXACTLY what kind of man he really is. Watch after ENN is complete and generating money the county will still not want Laughlin to Incorporate in the future, because they will be greedy enough to want to keep that revenue for themselves.
   
   If you know the Laughlin area you would see why the people of Laughlin want to Exclud the Hotel corridor, ITS A DISASTER! 80% of public safety cost is because of the casino's, most dont give back to the community (instead donate to BHC) and my guess is there will be 2/3 closing down in the near future becasue of how slow it is. Watch this Bill will be brought back up again the people of Laughlin will NOT give up until its finished.

6. RIVER Feb. 21, 2012 | 4:12 p.m. Report Abuse

   After todays vote, I AM SICK! How Sisolak can write a letter supporting the bill and to get the right to vote just a week and a half ago and then go back on his word shows EXACTLY what kind of man he really is. Watch after ENN is complete and generating money the county will still not want Laughlin to Incorporate in the future, because they will be greedy enough to want to keep that revenue for themselves.
   
   If you know the Laughlin area you would see why the people of Laughlin want to Exclude the Hotel corridor, ITS A DISASTER! 80% of public safety costs, most dont give back to the community (instead donate to BHC) and my guess is there will be 2/3 closing down in the near future becasue of how slow it is. Watch this Bill will be brought back up again the people of Laughlin will NOT give up until its finished.

7. elveret.odamit Feb. 21, 2012 | 3:52 p.m. Report Abuse

   Laughlion got the shaft. lately the eco reports for Nevada in particular to the strip casinos and the out look for the housing industries was great , more visitors and rooms filled.Iwas beginning to feel Clark county was back on track with new city halls being buil here nad there and everywhere. So, when Laughlin wants to incorporate it`s fiscally impossible????? What kind of Demo- crap reasoning is this??????. come on Harry give `em a break, pull some strings.

8. Brendan Feb. 21, 2012 | 3:44 p.m. Report Abuse

   Looking at the map on laughlin2011.com, I'm really surprised to see the Hotel corridor excluded from the proposal. Aside from Clark County desiring the revenue, I wonder what possible justification there is for that.
   
   If the proposed City of Laughlin can actually manage and support that whole area without the casinos, and without taxing their citizens into the poorhouse, more power to them.

9. USD,CA.2000 Feb. 21, 2012 | 2:59 p.m. Report Abuse

   See the studies on laughlin2011.com The commission is afraid of losing the support of the fireman's union. Sisolak is in bed with the unions, and does not have the guts to do what is right for the taxpayers. Instead he would rather spend millions of extra dollars to give Laughlin subpar fire and police protection. Feasibility means "capable of being done." Congrats BCC you have commissioned the worst unemployment in the nation! Evidence shows You are doing a great job.

10. Raoul.N.Stone Feb. 21, 2012 | 1:51 p.m. Report Abuse

    It would be interesting to see the two financial studies which were presented to the BCC. Apparently there was a total discrepancy of $4 million between the two, which played into the BCC decision. I'd like to see the studies for myself.