[Rev. 6/29/2024 7:35:31 PM--2023]

RAILROAD GRADE SEPARATION PROJECTS ACT

Chapter 506, Statutes of Nevada 1997

AN ACT relating to taxation; authorizing counties to impose sales and use taxes for infrastructure; authorizing certain cities to impose a tax on the rental of transient lodging for railroad grade separation projects under certain circumstances; authorizing certain cities and the Las Vegas Valley Water District to impose an excise tax on the use of water for water facilities; requiring the Legislative Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the Southern Nevada Water Authority; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

(Ch. 506, Stats. 1997 p. 2394; A—Ch. 439, Stats. 1997 p. 1556)

[Approved: July 16, 1997]

(Leadlines for sections have been supplied by the Legislative Counsel of the State of Nevada)

The People of the State of Nevada, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Sec. 23.  Legislative findings and declarations.  The Legislature hereby finds and declares that:

      1.  The increased use of the railroad lines in and through the urban areas of Washoe County has caused:

      (a) Extensive traffic problems for the drivers of private automobiles as well as commercial vehicles who need reasonable access to these urban areas on a daily basis;

      (b) Serious difficulties for emergency vehicles including fire-fighting equipment as well as ambulances which need immediate access to all portions of the county; and

      (c) Economic disadvantages for businesses located in both the urban and nonurban areas of the county.

      2.  A general law cannot be made applicable to the problem addressed by section 24 of this act because of the economic and geographical diversity of the local governments of this State, the unique growth patterns in those local governments and the special conditions experienced in Washoe County related to the increased use of the railroad lines in and through the urban areas of the county.

      (Ch. 506, Stats. 1997 p. 2405)

Sec. 24.  Imposition of sales and use tax in Washoe County; rate, payment and administration of tax; disposition of proceeds; Railroad Grade Separation Projects Fund.

      1.  The Board of County Commissioners of Washoe County may by ordinance, but not as in a case of emergency, impose a tax upon the retailers at the rate of not more than one-eighth of 1 percent of the gross receipts of any retailer from the sale of all tangible personal property sold at retail, or stored, used or otherwise consumed in the county if:

      (a) The City of Reno imposes a tax on the rental of transient lodging pursuant to NRS 268.7845 in the maximum amount allowed by that section; and

      (b) The Board receives a written commitment from one or more sources for the expenditure of not less than one-half of the total cost of a project for the acquisition, establishment, construction or expansion of railroad grade separation projects in Washoe County, including the estimated proceeds of the tax described in paragraph (a).

      2.  An ordinance enacted pursuant to subsection 1 may not become effective before a question concerning the imposition of the tax is approved by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Board of County Commissioners.

      3.  An ordinance enacted pursuant to subsection 1 must specify the date on which the tax must first be imposed which must occur on the first day of the first month of the next calendar quarter that is at least 120 days after the date on which a two-thirds majority of the Board of County Commissioners approved the question.

      4.  An ordinance enacted pursuant to subsection 1 must include provisions in substance as follows:

      (a) Provisions substantially identical to those contained in chapter 374 of NRS, insofar as applicable.

      (b) A provision that all amendments to chapter 374 of NRS after the date of enactment of the ordinance, not inconsistent with this section, automatically become a part of an ordinance enacted pursuant to subsection 1.

      (c) A provision stating the specific purpose for which the proceeds of the tax must be expended.

      (d) A provision that a purchaser is entitled to a refund, in accordance with the provisions of NRS 374.635 to 374.720, inclusive, of the amount of the tax required to be paid that is attributable to the tax imposed upon the sale of, and the storage, use or other consumption in a county of, tangible personal property used for the performance of a written contract:

             (1) Entered into on or before the effective date of the tax; or

             (2) For the construction of an improvement to real property for which a binding bid was submitted before the effective date of the tax if the bid was afterward accepted,

Ê if under the terms of the contract or bid the contract price or bid amount cannot be adjusted to reflect the imposition of the tax.

      5.  No ordinance imposing a tax which is enacted pursuant to subsection 1 may be repealed or amended or otherwise directly or indirectly modified in such a manner as to impair any outstanding bonds or other obligations which are payable from or secured by a pledge of a tax enacted pursuant to subsection 1 until those bonds or other obligations have been discharged in full.

      6.  All fees, taxes, interest and penalties imposed and all amounts of tax required to be paid to the County pursuant to this section must be paid to the Department of Taxation in the form of remittances payable to the Department of Taxation.

      7.  The Department of Taxation shall deposit the payments with the State Treasurer for credit to the Sales and Use Tax Account in the State General Fund.

      8.  The State Controller, acting upon the collection data furnished by the Department of Taxation, shall monthly:

      (a) Transfer from the Sales and Use Tax Account to the appropriate account in the State General Fund 1.75 percent of all fees, taxes, interest and penalties collected pursuant to this section during the preceding month as compensation to the state for the cost of collecting the taxes.

      (b) Determine for the County an amount of money equal to any fees, taxes, interest and penalties collected in or for the county pursuant to this section during the preceding month, less the amount transferred to the State General Fund pursuant to paragraph (a).

      (c) Transfer the amount determined for the County to the Intergovernmental Fund and remit the money to the County Treasurer.

      9.  The County Treasurer shall deposit the money received pursuant to subsection 8 in the County Treasury for credit to a fund to be known as the Railroad Grade Separation Projects Fund. The Railroad Grade Separation Projects Fund must be accounted for as a separate fund and not as a part of any other fund.

      10.  The money in the Railroad Grade Separation Projects Fund, including interest and any other income from the Fund must be used by the Board of County Commissioners for the cost of the acquisition, establishment, construction or expansion of one or more railroad grade separation projects, including the payment and prepayment of principal and interest on notes, bonds or other obligations issued to fund such projects.

      (Ch. 506, Stats. 1997 p. 2406; A—Ch. 439, Stats. 1997 p. 1554; Ch. 28, Stats. 1999 p. 64; Ch. 400, Stats. 2003 p. 2392; Ch. 421, Stats. 2005 p. 1778; Ch. 387, Stats. 2009 p. 2102)