Chas Macquarie, left, arguing for local road-funding measures, and Raymond La Rochelle, arguing against local road-funding measures, at a public forum at Brewery Arts Center on Oct. 7, 2024.
Photo by Scott Neuffer.
A public forum Monday on two Carson City ballot questions revealed a stark division in what proponents believe about the tax proposals and what opponents believe about the tax proposals.
The League of Women Voters of Northern Nevada, Sierra Nevada Forums and AAUW Capital (NV) Branch presented the free election forum, one of four co-sponsored by the Nevada Appeal. Monday’s event was moderated by Nancy Scott. More than 180 people attended at the Brewery Arts Center, and the debate can be watched on the Appeal’s YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIx5ShRlbpA.
“So, in conclusion, passing this measure to fund local road repairs is a reasonable and fair solution to a serious problem,” said Chas Macquarie, supporting the measures.
Macquarie, retired civil engineer and former CEO of Lumos & Associates, was talking about a proposed .25 percent sales tax that could raise an estimated $4.5 million a year for local roads.
Raymond La Rochelle, member of the Carson City Men’s Club, disagreed, calling the proposal bad law and arguing supervisors could use the funds for other things.
“Do you trust these commissioners?” he asked. “Well, I don’t. There is nothing here that prohibits them from using the money any damn way they want.”
La Rochelle’s claim is false, according to the District Attorney’s Office, which does not advocate for or against ballot measures but can comment on legality matters.
“Under Nevada law, revenue generated from any tax authorized by CC1 or CC2 may only be used for ‘reconstructing, maintaining, and repairing local public roads in Carson City’ as stated in the ballot questions. In my opinion, the Board of Supervisors could not legally use that revenue for any other purpose,” DA Jason Woodbury told the Appeal.
Carson City Public Works has estimated the funding shortfall between maintenance needs of deteriorating roads and current funding is $21 million a year. Local roads, the majority of the city’s roadway network, do not qualify for federal grants like regional arterials or collectors.
“Similarly, the additional 0.25% in sales and use tax proposed through this question would not be permitted to fund new road construction, public transit or air quality improvements,” reads the Carson City sample ballot. “Instead, the additional 0.25% in sales and use tax proposed through this question would only be used for the reconstruction, maintenance and repair of local public roads in Carson City along with any required repair and replacement of roadway elements such as curb, gutter and sidewalk.”
The ballot language, as approved by supervisors in April, does not include repairs for multiuse paths or hiking trails.
The second question, the supplemental government services tax, would levy 1 cent of every dollar for up to 35 percent of a vehicle’s value, and the amount would decrease with depreciation. It is estimated to generate up to $2.5 million a year for local roads.
The city has used the example of a new $50,000 vehicle to illustrate the tax. In the first year, a resident with that vehicle would pay $175 for the new tax during registration. After year nine, only 15 percent of the full tax amount would be collected, totaling $26.25.
Macquarie pointed out Monday the supplemental GST would capture revenue from EVs that don’t contribute to fuels taxes.
La Rochelle argued the tax proposals are vague and could affect the economy.
“Anytime you make something more expensive, you’re not going to sell as many,” he said, adding car dealers like to tout cheaper cars in Carson City.
Carson’s sales tax rate is currently 7.6 percent. Washoe County’s sales tax rate is 8.265 percent, according to the Reno Gazette Journal.
Macquarie said the proposals won’t fix the entire problem but are “a good start in order to fix the deterioration or at least slow the deterioration of our existing roads.”
“If we want to drive around on gravel or drag our cars through potholes, then that is the voters’ choice,” he said.
La Rochelle couldn’t get behind the measures, urging leaders to go back to the drawing board.
“This is the wrong proposal at the wrong time with the wrong wording,” he said.
The next election forums are scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 9, and Oct. 14 and 16. More information:
More information about Carson streets is online: https://www.carson.org/government/departments-g-z/public-works/preserve-carson-city-roads.