Nevadans split in poll on switch in mining taxes

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A poll finds Nevada residents split on an initiative to reap more state revenues by changing how mining taxes are collected.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Monday that 40 percent of likely voters surveyed statewide supported a measure to tax mining companies based on gross proceeds instead of net proceeds.

Some 37 percent of respondents said they were opposed to the idea, which is backed by the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. Another 23 percent were undecided.

Those results were within the 4 percentage point sampling error margin by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research.

PLAN says the change could generate hundreds of millions of dollars a year for schools and state services.

Mining leaders say it would unfairly target their industry for a 300 percent tax increase.

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Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com