Teachers tax initiative could cut 10,000 jobs, report says

[Omaha Steve]

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008804260326

BY RAY HAGAR • [e-mail] • April 26, 2008

If the proposed teachers union tax initiative becomes law, it could cost Nevada about 10,000 jobs in the resort industry, according to a report released Friday by a noted Las Vegas gaming analyst.

The president of the Nevada State Education Association, however, refuted the assertion.

"This is a complete scare tactic," said NSEA President Lynn Warne of Reno. "This is just fearmongering and trying to distract folks from what the real issue is."

The teachers union is proposing a 44 percent increase in the state's gross gaming tax for all casinos that gross more than $1 million a month. Union members and paid signature gatherers are collecting signatures to get the question on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Under the initiative, the gambling tax would increase 3 percentage points, from 6.75 percent to 9.75 percent. That increase would raise the tax by 44 percent, leading Nevada gaming analysts have said.

If the tax goes into effect, it could cripple the gaming industry, said Bill Lerner of Las Vegas, senior gaming and lodging analyst for Deutsche Bank.

FULL story at link.

[rurallib]

1. Jeez - the casinos couln't pass it on to the customers?

Like anyone pays attention in Vegas. Who are those casinos kidding?