Three Commissioners Reject Clark County Sales Tax Increase Proposal to Address Homelessness

At the regular Clark County Commission meeting on Tuesday, three commissioners voted down a proposal that would have raised the sales tax in the county. Commissioners Marilyn Kirkpatrick, Jim Gibson, and Michael Naft opposed the measure introduced unexpectedly by Commission Chairman Tick Segerblom. Segerblom had hoped the increased revenue would help combat the worsening homelessness crisis in the county.

The proposal, which would have increased the sales tax from 8.375% to 8.5%, was introduced by Segerblom during the meeting, with the aim of using the additional funds to provide more resources for homeless services. Had the board approved the tax increase, it would have triggered a meeting introducing an amendment to the County Code, followed by public discussion. However, Tuesday’s decision effectively halted the plan, maintaining the current tax rate and status quo in addressing homelessness.

Segerblom explained that the money raised from the tax increase would be exclusively dedicated to homelessness services, acknowledging the overwhelming strain on his district. “In my district, I can just tell you, it has become an overwhelming problem,” Segerblom said, referring to the escalating situation of homelessness. “Even though I’m not sure the population’s going up, the situation’s becoming worse.”

The chairman apologized for the sudden appearance of the proposal on the meeting’s agenda, explaining that state open meeting laws prevented him from discussing it with other commissioners beforehand. He believed the measure needed to be introduced quickly and directly to address the growing crisis.

In 2019, the Nevada legislature granted counties the authority to raise their sales tax by up to one-quarter of one percent. Clark County had already implemented a partial increase in January 2020, raising the rate by 0.125%, prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed increase would have raised the sales tax by another 0.125%, pushing the rate to 8.5%.

Segerblom argued that this tax increase was one of the few immediate options available to generate funding. The new tax would add one cent for every eight dollars spent, excluding food, housing, and medication.

However, the three opposing commissioners expressed strong reservations. District A Commissioner Michael Naft voiced concerns about the regressive nature of the sales tax, emphasizing that it would disproportionately affect lower-income residents. “It is the most regressive tax that we could impose,” Naft said, adding that raising taxes just because it was within the county’s authority was not the best solution.

District B Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick also disagreed, noting the financial strain many families are under. She expressed frustration at the sudden addition of the item to the agenda, suggesting that it should have been discussed beforehand as an emerging issue. “It’s hard out there. People are struggling,” Kirkpatrick said. “I’m mad about it, one, because I think that it could have been a discussion item as opposed to an agenda item.”

District G Commissioner Jim Gibson agreed, stressing the importance of identifying a clear financial goal before considering how to raise funds. “You work to a number, then you figure out how on earth you cover that number,” Gibson said.

Segerblom had previously supported the county’s recent ban on homeless camping, but argued that the law would only be effective if accompanied by services and shelter for those affected. “We cannot allow these camps to exist and it’s become unacceptable,” he added.

The Retail Association of Nevada had already voiced objections to the proposed tax increase earlier in the week, raising concerns over its potential impact on local businesses.

The decision to reject the proposal means the county will continue exploring alternative methods of addressing homelessness, but for now, the tax rate remains unchanged.