Crunching the numbers

Sen. Dina Titus hopes to tackle rising property taxes--without a Proposition 13

By Steve Sebelius

Mercury: What kind of session do you think it will be?

Titus: I think it's going to be difficult. I don't think it will be as contentious as last session because the issues are different.

Mercury: If you had to name your top three issues this session, what would they be?

Titus: Because I'm on the Finance Committee, my No. 1 goal is to learn that budget, do a good job on that committee, look out for programs that I care about and their adequate funding. Second is the property tax, coming up with a good solution on property tax. And the third, I've chaired the disability committee for the last two sessions during the interim so there are some recommendations out of that committee I would like to see enacted.

Mercury: What do you think is a fair solution to the property tax dilemma?

Titus: I think you've got to give some immediate relief. People can't afford the bills they've just gotten that they'll have to start paying in July. I think the second thing you need to look at is who gets the relief and you want to be sure that those who need it the most are the ones who benefit from any solution. Third, I don't think you should react to the emotion of the moment and lock in something that ties your hands forever. That's why I'm opposed to a Proposition 13.

Mercury: If you had to pick one thing to come out of the session and only one thing, what would it be?

Titus: I think it would be a property tax solution.

Mercury: What do you think of the Bob Beers/Kenny Guinn car rebate tax idea? Are you in favor of that or no?

Titus: Well, the way it's structured now, the people with the most money get the most money back. That's very regressive. It doesn't help people at the low end who need it the most.

Mercury: Why not use that [$300 million surplus] money that we have right now?

Titus: I think he should use that money first. That's why I say he can give some back, but let's wait and see how much is really left over to give back. You've got to fill up the Rainy Day Fund, fill up the disaster relief fund, fill up the hole from the loss of the estate tax, I think he should make the Millennium Scholarship program solvent, I think he should spend money on mental health that is very much needed. Then if there's some money left over, then you can give it back.

Mercury: Is there going to be a special session?

Titus: I don't think it's in anybody's best interest to have a special session.

Mercury: But is there going to be one?

Titus: Well, if they don't enact the cap, and they can't figure out the solution to property tax, then it might take a special session. But I would be opposed to that. I just think it would be a bad idea.

Mercury: Is it time for a full-time Legislature?

Titus: The people of Nevada do not want a full-time Legislature. They pride themselves on having a citizen Legislature that meets every other year, that's got limited terms, limited time in the session, so I don't think it will go to a special session. What it does show you, though, is that that 120-day limitation, which I opposed from the beginning and was the lone voice in the wilderness, has not been a good idea. They [voters] thought it would mean less government, less cost. They weren't thinking in terms of quality, they were thinking it terms of quantity. I'm not sure they got either.

Mercury: How are you going to do things differently this year?

Titus: I think the main difference is my serving on Finance, so that I can learn that budget. I've always dealt with it kind of secondhand. Now I'll be right there every day, nuts and bolts, going through the budget and learning it.

Mercury: If you could change one thing about the session, what would it be?

Titus: I think the 120-day restriction is not a good thing.

Mercury: What role do you think the Legislature should have in local land use planning?

Titus: I think there is an increasingly important role that the state can play in land use. You cannot separate land use, transportation, air quality and water. And so much of that today is beginning to cross over local jurisdictional lines. I think the state can play a role. And the state is more removed from the day-to-day influences of development, and I think it's easier for them to make good policy, I believe.

Mercury: A lot of local officials say that it's taking their responsibilities away.

Titus: Local government never wants to give up control over land-use decisions, because that growth is tied to their revenue and developers are tied to their campaigns.