Supervisors decide to put public safety tax question to voters

Carson City supervisors today voted to put a ballot question on the November ballot that would provide money to fund new positions in the fire and sheriff's departments.

The new plan, if approved by voters, would raise about $2 million, with a little more than half of it going to the sheriff's department.

The city spends close to half of its general fund on public safety, and the added 12.5 cent increase in the property rate would be used for a new ambulance team, more firefighters during wildfire season and, for the sheriff's department, a gang unit, more deputies at the jail and additional dispatchers.

The property tax increase would cost the owner of a $250,000 house about $66 extra a year. Rates, however, would still be lower than those in Reno, Sparks, Minden, Gardnerville, Yerington and Fallon.

The board turned down a public safety committee's recommendations last month that would have asked voters if they wanted to pay for $6 million in city improvements - $4 million for the fire department and $2 million for the sheriff's department.