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 The North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce has grown to meet the needs of businesses in the northern part of the Las Vegas Valley.
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Legislative Update
March 5, 2009
Policy Statements Submitted to the Joint Committee on Taxation
John Wilson, AMR-MedicWest Ambulance, Board Chairman
Curtis Cummings, Alan Jeskey Builders, Vice-Chairman of Government Affairs
Sharon Powers, President/CEO
Position: Reforms and Efficiencies
We strongly support efforts by the Legislature to increase government efficiencies through increasing allocations to the state’s rainy day fund and creation of budget stabilization accounts.
Position: Education Cuts
Reduced teacher compensation has a direct negative correlation to the quality of our future workforce. Employers require graduates that have sound fundamental skills in reading, writing and math. Companies looking to relocate to the Southern Nevada area require an employee base that has sufficient competency levels to attract and keep new companies in the area. The North Las Vegas Chamber (NLVCC) strongly opposes a reduction in teacher salaries.
Position: Public Sector Employee Compensation
The NLVCC strongly supports the essential services that public employees provide on the local and state level. We are concerned that government obligations to these hard-working people cannot be met long-term. It is critical that ongoing review, discussion and future reform of salaries and retirement benefits occur to protect these employees and the taxpaying citizens from the risk that this increasing unfunded liability presents to the well-being of the state.
Position: Public-Private Partnerships
Private sector services may better serve the public with the efficient use of the Request for Proposal and Competitive Bidding Processes. Services such as groundskeepers, park maintenance, street sweeping, street light replacement, etc., are but a few of the types of services that could be competitively provided by the private sector, thus reducing costs for items such as equipment, maintenance, fuel, insurance, inflated retirement plans and excessive overtime. The pressure of competitive bidding reduces costs and increases output; something that should be considered during these difficult times.
Conclusion:
Any new tax or tax increase must be broad-based and not create new bureaucracy. NLVCC believes that neither cutting budgets, nor raising taxes is the answer without changing the way government conducts its affairs. Government must pursue public private partnerships wherever possible. Government must demonstrate that it will implement changes that result in efficiency. For example, employees participating in benefit costs and compensation plans that are more in line with the private sector. Any tax increases or new taxes for this specific shortfall should have a sunset provision.
| Executive Committee | Board of Directors |
| Chairman John Wilson MedicWest/AMR Ambulance |
Marc Bolduc Olympia Development |
| Chairman-Elect Barrick Neill Veolia Transportation, Las Vegas |
Joe Cain Silver Nugget Gaming, Inc. |
| Vice Chair-Finance Shelby Keefer Serl & Keefer. CPAs |
George Garcia G.C. Garcia, Inc. |
| Vice Chair –Government Affairs Curtis Cummings Alan Jeskey Builders |
Bob Hart Nevada State Bank |
| Vice Chair – Membership Jim Servino 970am KNUU Radio |
Joe Hasson Aliante Station |
| Vice Chair At-large John McMillan Flangas McMillan Law Group |
Kathleen Paustian Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLP |
| Immediate Past Chairman James York Bank of North Las Vegas |
Solveig Thorsrud-Allen The Firm Public Relations & Marketing |
| President & CEO Sharon Powers North Las Vegas Chamber |
Vince Variale North Vista Hospital |
© Copyright 2008 North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved.
3365 W. Craig Rd., Suite 25. | North Las Vegas, NV 89032
Phone (702) 642-9595 | Fax (702) 642-0439