Metro finally gets (some of) More Cops sales tax

What’s the old saying? A third of a loaf is better than nothing, especially when you’re starving?

Oh, wait. That’s supposed to be half a loaf.

But not for Metro police, which may finally see another sales tax increase dedicated to hiring more officers approved by the Clark County Commission. But instead of a 0.15-percentage-point increase authorized by the Nevada Legislature in 2013, or a compromise 0.075-percentage-point increase floated last year, the increase is slated to be 0.05 percentage points.

The story of why Metro could get but a third of what the Legislature said it could have is mired in the politics of the County Commission. And it was set in motion before the recent departure of Commissioner Tom Collins, who resigned abruptly Monday.

Collins is a key figure in the drama. From the start, he wanted the full amount. But the tax increase requires a two-thirds supermajority, or five commissioners. And Collins could not get that many votes for the full amount.

Instead, Commissioner Susan Brager proposed an alternative, 0.075 percentage points, or half of the authorized increase. It was probably the best deal to be had, but Collins had other plans. He withheld his vote for the Brager Alternative, denying it the fifth vote. But the Collins Plan couldn’t win approval, either.

The stalemate persisted through several sometimes-painful hearings before the commission. Anti-tax advocates mixed with anti-government types for a “Star Wars” cantina-like collage of characters, as frustrated police officers armed with binders full of statistics were turned away time after time.

Flash forward to about two weeks ago: Ardent anti-tax Commissioner Steve Sisolak began meeting with Sheriff Joe Lombardo to discuss a host of issues, including the More Cops tax. A compromise was struck, Lombardo and Sisolak said: The county would pass a 0.05-percentage-point increase in the sales tax, but Metro wouldn’t hire the support staffers who’d normally be added when more officers come aboard, saving money for the county’s general fund. And, even better, the department would begin responding to non-injury auto accidents again, something Lombardo said he’d push for when running for sheriff last year.

“Is it an ideal situation? No, it’s not an ideal situation,” Sisolak said. But the tax increase, along with additional officers paid for by the general fund and a tax reserve fund, would add significantly to the department’s ranks.

Sisolak — and probably everybody else in town — says the sales tax is a terrible way to fund police, and he’s right. “This is just not stable,” Sisolak said.

But the proper source of police salaries — property taxes — was skyrocketing in 2004 when the More Cops idea was floated to voters. A sales tax increase was the next best idea, with monthly bake sales presumably bringing up the rear.

Despite the compromise, however, the department still faced a problem. Collins was sure to oppose the plan as weak tea. So Sisolak offered his vote as the final “aye” needed to get the tax approved.

But then Collins quit, opening his seat to an appointment to be made later this month by Gov. Brian Sandoval. With Sisolak's "aye," however, it seems the 0.05-percentage-point plan has the votes to pass. For his part, however, Lombardo said he's taking nothing for granted and is preparing to make a complete presentation to the commission in early September in the hopes of winning the support of a two-thirds majority.

Oh, and one more thing: Although the legislative authorization to enact the sales tax expires in 2016, Metro has agreed not to return to the county to ask for the remaining 0.10-percentage-point increase. “We agreed — this is it,” Sisolak said.

It’s a hell of a way to fund a police department, but it appears to be the best Metro is going to get, at least until somebody decides to go back to Square One and do it right.

Steve Sebelius is a Las Vegas Review-Journal political columnist. Follow him on Twitter (@SteveSebelius) or reach him at 702-387-5276 or ssebelius@reviewjournal.com.