Las Vegas City Commission Minutes, August 11, 1942 to December 30, 1946, lvc000005-448

We are very much disappointed that the property owners in your district do not favor annexation to the City of Las Vegas. We are beset with many problems which must be solved, and we had hoped you would see your way clear to help out in this manner. It was in realization of these problems that the Chamber of Commerce recently undertook to increase assessed valuations within the City. Quite a campaign has been carried on to bring this about. It was our purpose to extend this program to the resorts along the highway which really are a part of Las Vegas and derive their income largely from the fact that they are part of this community. If there were no Las Vegas, there would be none of the resorts which are now flourishing along the highway. Let's take a look at the financial situation of the City of Las Vegas. The voters recently approved a bond issue of one million and a half dollars for new schools. We have no quarrel with that. We believe in giving the children of the community the very best in educational facilities. But the money must be raised. It must come from taxes. In addition to that, the County is planning an addition to the courthouse, That, we are told, will call for another $350,000 in bonds. The County Hospital Board must ask for at least that amount to finance, the cost of the building already built. As we understand it, the County must reimburse the Federal Government for monies advanced for construction. That makes a total of more than Two Million Dollars in bonds already on the list without anything for the City. Now, the original sewer system in the downtown area is about worn out. It Is In deplorable condition both from the standpoint of service and sanitation. It will have to be replaced before very much longer. Several miles of streets in the original paving districts must be rebuilt. That also is up to the City. We have swimming pools to build and parks to provide. That also takes money and we can no longer neglect these things. It is estimated the City will require a million and a half dollars at the least to carry on the MUST program. Where is the money coming from? The school bond program will require an additional fifty cents on the tax rate, which already Is at the constitutional limit of $5.00 on the hundred. Bond issues come first. Then the county tax rate, and then the schools. The City comes last. We are entitled to have as much as $1.50 per $100 valuation if there is that much left after the other is taken out. With another .50¢ for bonds it will be the City that is cut. If more bonds are voted, and they must be, the City will be cut still further. We are facing the possibility of a rate of 70 or 80 cents when we can't get by on $1.50. Where is the money coming from to run your city government? To provide police and fire protection? To keep up the streets and keep the sewer system functioning as it should? To give the community the parks so badly needed? The Increased valuation the Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring will help. But it won't be enough. We felt, that in view of the stake the resorts on the so-called "strip" have in Las Vegas, you would be willing to come in and help share this burden. The taxes to be paid would come out of income tax and shouldn't be too much of a burden, the way we see it. They would help the city out tremendously. It has been suggested that the reason we are seeking annexation is to gain control of the licenses in these large resorts. That, at this time, we wish to deny. Our sole purpose is to gain additional revenue to meet and extremely serious situation. We feel the additional protection the city could provide would be well worth the added taxes that would be paid. But you gentlemen undoubtedly have considered the matter carefully and feel otherwise. We believe you will agree you are a part of the community of Las Vegas. We have attempted a solution of our problem by annexing the area in which you operate. You oppose that move. We feel it is no more than right that we should call upon you for suggestions as to how to meet the condition we have outlined. Maybe you can advise us as to another method of raising these funds. We would be glad to have your ideas on the subject and feel you owe it to us to cooperate. This is your community as much as ours. An impoverished city government will hurt you as much as it will the people in town. What have you to offer? According to the interpretation of the law, the protests are in line, and we can forget the whole thing. We expected a protest to this proposed annexation but not so much, and you have shown us that you don't want any part of us. As soon as the protests are checked by our City Attorney, we will notify you of the result. Q. For our own information, Mr. McNamee, are those people who protested residents? MR. MCNAMEE: They are all property owners there, as well as all the residents. THE MAYOR: The reason I ask that is that the Charter means freeholders, who are residents. MR. MCNAMEE: I realize that you have to check those who are and who aren't.