SB319: Washoe County’s Tax Hike Trojan Horse

March 27, 2025 – Nevada’s liberty-loving backbone, its rural ranchers, Washoe workhorses, and freedom-first patriots, better brace for a gut punch. SB319, a bill slithering through the Nevada Legislature, is set to consolidate fire districts in Washoe County, Reno, and Sparks under the guise of “efficiency.” But peel back the bureaucratic doublespeak, and it’s a debt-dumping, tax-hiking scheme that will leave homeowners and businesses bleeding cash. This is not about better fire protection, it’s about bailing out insolvent cities and sticking you with the tab.

Mark your calendars: March 28, 3:30 p.m., the Senate Government Affairs Committee holds a hearing in Carson City (Room 2149, Nevada Legislative Bldg.) and Las Vegas (Room 4, 7120 Amigo St.). Show up in person or call in at (888) 475-4499, Meeting ID 89717837330.

You have two minutes to tell these suits what’s what, make it count. Written testimony?

Email it in PDF to SenGa@sen.state.nv.us 24 hours prior. The clock’s ticking.

Here’s the raw meat: SB319 merges the fire districts to offload Reno and Sparks’ financial wreckage onto Washoe County. A county insider, someone in the know, though unverified, says Reno’s drowning in $25-$50 million of debt after bloating its payroll with 300 new hires on COVID cash that’s now dried up. Sparks? Maybe $18-$25 million in the red. Washoe County’s already teetering near insolvency, and this bill’s a shove off the cliff. The insider claims property taxes could spike 73 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, $4,000 to $5,000 more a year for some. Read the bill yourself at https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/83rd2025/Bill/12548/Text; the blue text is the new poison being injected.

Section 6 lets an unelected County Fire Protection Board snatch land, gear, and whatever else they fancy, funding it with borrowed cash and bonds, paid by you. Section 7 demands an annual budget, and if they cry “shortfall,” Section 8 forces county commissioners to rubber-stamp a tax hike. No vote, no say, just a bigger bill in your mailbox. This is government overreach on steroids, a middle finger to every Nevadan who’s already stretched thin.

Janine Hansen, director of Nevada Families for Freedom, state affiliate of the Eagle Forum, celebrating 50 years of fighting the good fight, is not mincing words. Reached at 775-397-6859 (Elko) or 775-356-0105 (Sparks), she’s rallying the troops. “Vote no on SB319,” she urges. “It’s a tax grab, not a fix. Unelected cronies shouldn’t be picking your pocket.” Check nevadafamilies.org for more.

Email the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, Edgar.Flores@sen.state.nv.us, James.Ohrenschall@sen.state.nv.us, Dina.Neal@sen.state.nv.us, Skip.Daly@sen.state.nv.us, Lisa.Krasner@sen.state.nv.us, John.Ellison@sen.state.nv.us, Lori.Rogich@sen.state.nv.us, and tell them to kill this beast. Also, hit up Governor Lombardo at (775) 684-5670 or https://gov.nv.gov/Forms/Share He’s vowed no new taxes, hold him to it.

Nevadans don’t bow to big government. SB319’s a debt bomb wrapped in red tape. Show up, speak up, and say NO. Your wallet, and your freedom, depend on it.

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