Washoe County tax plan OK’d

CARSON CITY — The Assembly voted 34-5 Friday for a bill to let Washoe County commissioners enact a voter-approved motor fuel tax increase.

Senate Bill 201, already approved by the Senate, now goes to Gibbons. Once he vetoes it, the bill will return to lawmakers for an override vote in both houses.

SB201 has been a priority for county transportation officials who are counting on the money for projects they say could create up to 3,000 jobs.

An advisory ballot question that led to SB201 was approved by 55 percent of voters.

Gov. Jim Gibbons, who has vowed not to raise taxes, has said he won’t stand in the way of voter-approved tax increases, but Gibbons spokesman Dan Burns said the governor doesn’t consider the gasoline tax increase to be “voter approved.”