By Darren Weeks
There are few things that the government does efficiently.
However, one area in which they are rather adept is when it comes to separating you from your cash.
This week, Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn signed the largest tax increase in that state's history into law. The increase is said to raise the taxes $836 million over two years.
After signing the "compromise" — some legislators actually wanted more — Governor Guinn told the Las Vegas Review Journal, "It's not complete, but it's a great start for us."
If this is only a start, I sure as heck wouldn't want to see the finish!
The working man will see his gross wages taxed an additional .7 percent. And that is just the beginning stage. There are more such progressive increases for wages.
If you're planning a vacation to Nevada, you'd better bring your own booze. Alcohol taxes are going up a whopping 75 percent! And while you're at it, you'd better smuggle your smokes in from some other state as well. Otherwise, be prepared to pay an additional 45 cents a pack.
For a state that is known for its "sin city," it has become rather expensive to sin there. Obviously hoping to kill its tourist industry, a new entertainment tax of 5 to 10 percent is being imposed.
A new real-estate tax will be levied of $1.30 per every $500 of property sold.
Probably the best quote of the day came from one of the state senators herself. Said Sen. Sandra Tiffany: "It was a brutal session. Here we had a Legislature that increased spending by 30 percent when the economic growth is 6 percent. You have a lot of legislators who voted the way their districts didn't want them to vote. You will see some political fallout."
God only knows there needs to be!
If I were living in Nevada right now, I think I'd be contacting people on the road commission, and as many chicken farmers as possible. Because there needs to be a good old-fashioned tar and feathering ceremony in that state.
