THE RIGHT THING
Nevadans have a few shots at placing controls on property taxes
BY MARK WARDEN

As the ballot initiative/referendum process is our last hope for better government in Nevada, some people question whether we can trust the electorate or general public to do the right thing when it comes to legislation. I’m one who says an emphatic, “yes!” I think the question should be, “Can we trust our elected officials to do the right thing?”

I suppose the answer depends on your definition of the “right thing.” If you mean protecting special interests from competitors, or fortifying a governmental agency’s power, scope or financial support, the answer is often “yes.” If you mean codifying advantages for public-sector services over private-sector alternatives, then the answer is usually “yes.”

But if your understanding of the “right thing” is to strengthen constitutional protections for your money and property, or reining in out-of-control government spending and regulation and central planning, then I would say that our state’s elected officials fail miserably.

When entrenched politicians are regularly re-elected and better candidates are outspent or outmaneuvered one campaign after another, and while in office they vote to benefit their special interest and union supporters, we are left with no alternative other than to take our issues to the streets and to the people directly.

Such is the case with a trio of populist and fiscally responsible ballot initiatives working their way through the Silver State.

The first underway is the reincarnated Angle Property Tax Restraint Initiative, popularly known as “Prop 13 for Nevada.” There is huge support for this constitutional amendment, especially from former Californians, by those of us who watched our property taxes jump 30 to 50 percent in less than two years. I realize that this problem doesn’t affect the slow-growth rural counties much, but they should still endorse any good restraint on government’s ability to tax its citizens.

Another ballot initiative trying to qualify for next November’s election will be TASC for Nevada, a new and improved version of Colorado’s 

successful TABOR (Taxpayers Bill of Rights). TASC is an acronym for “Tax and Spending Control” — something our elected representatives haven’t had the will to do on their own. Now we must put controls on them.

The third shot in this hat trick of governance-reform measures is a soon-to-be released initiative to put more effective shackles on government’s ability to take your private property through eminent domain. Nevada has seen a large number of privately owned properties taken over by local or state government, even when the land was not needed for the “public good.” We need this kind of restraint to reinforce property rights and to limit bureaucrats from using condemnation to curry political favor or punish political opponents.

We have an historic opportunity to change the face of Nevada policy for the better. Everyone reading this can become an activist and be part of the solution by simply signing three petitions, and then convincing your friends, family and co-workers to do the same. While you’re at it, contribute $20 or more to the committees of volunteers who are doing the work to qualify the measures for the ballot. They are working hard for the future of Nevada’s fiscal health — and yours. LW

Mark Warden is active with Nevadans for Sound Government, the Libertarian Party of Clark County and the Nevada Republican Liberty Caucus. Reach him at markwarden@cox.net.