Tax time looming

The list of potential tax increases looming for Nevadans got a bit longer last week.

Already, various interests are pursuing petitions to raise the state's gaming and mining tax rates, while another potential referendum seeks to create a new tax on Nevada businesses. Meanwhile, supporters of a local arena will ask Clark County voters in November to approve a special sales tax district to fund their project.

And now comes the Clark County School Board.

On Thursday, board members announced they hope to place on November's ballot a measure to raise $5.3 billion through higher property taxes to maintain, renovate and in some cases replace schools.

"While this is a lot of money, there is a lot of need," said Jeff Weiler, the district's chief financial officer.

Voters can be forgiven if they're somewhat skeptical. Over the past 25 years as district enrollment exploded, Clark County residents time and again approved billions for school construction -- a good portion of which went to renovate older campuses. But now that the recession has quashed growth, the district says its facilities are so time-worn and dilapidated that it needs more than $5 billion -- yes, with a "b" -- to keep scores of schools operable?

The average Clark County school is only 22 years old, for goodness sake. If they're already falling apart, who built them in the first place?

Nevada is in the midst of one of the worst economic downturns in its history. As such, those who seek to raise taxes -- whether on gaming, miners, businesses or property owners -- will have a steep hill to scale in order to gain the support of weary taxpayers.

And that includes the school district.