Clark County Assessor Mark Schofield said he does not think Nevada taxpayers will revolt against the tax cap approved by the Nevada Legislature last week.
"I think this will stave off a Proposition 13-type vehicle," Schofield said Monday.
However, the assessor said, anything can happen.
Both houses overwhelmingly passed Assembly Bill 489, imposing annual tax caps of 3 percent for homeowners and 8 percent for businesses.
Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno, has already said she will seek a constitutional amendment in 2006 similar to California's Proposition 13 measure.
With some businesses hit with a 300 percent property tax increase last year and the average Las Vegas Strip property facing a 70 percent increase, Schofield said that property owners should be satisfied with the legislative caps.
"Anybody in their right mind would not challenge this," Schofield said on "Face to Face with Jon Ralston," aired on Cox Cable Channel 19. He also said that Clark County should be able to handle tax bills due out at the end of June.
A homeowner will receive an affidavit to sign and return to the assessor's office, declaring the home to be taxed is a primary residence, Schofield said.
For renters, low-income residents and small businesses, however, there are some technical problems to be dealt with, the assessor said.
The state Tax Commission has to approve the legislative measure before the counties can send out tax bills.
"We're going to need time," Schofield said.
Legislators followed a provision in the state's constitution that provides a hardship exemption to homeowners. Carol Villardo, executive director of the Nevada Taxpayers Association, had urged the Legislature to base its action on that provision from the beginning.
But Villardo said courts may have a problem considering a 3 percent rate as a "hardship."
Schofield, who said none of the assessors in the state were consulted about the tax caps passed by the Legislature, urged the Legislature to leave the caps in place for awhile.
Schofield said he does not support a change in the state constitution, because once it is changed, residents would have to live with the consequences for at least five years.
When the tax debate began, Schofield had suggested a property tax cap of 6 percent "to ignite a dialogue."
If the Legislature had failed to act, a Proposition 13 measure would have been in place within five years, he predicted.
"I think homeowners are going to be ecstatic about this," Schofield said.
archive