The committee working on a plan to build a $1.9 billion NFL stadium in Las Vegas is now shifting some of its attention to police.
The Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee is considering sending a proposal to Gov. Brian Sandoval asking to raise the sales tax in Clark County by one tenth of a percent.
The revenue generated would be used to fund police departments countywide.
This as the committee is also discussing a proposal to raise the room tax, paid by tourists, by .88 percent to raise $750 million in public funding for the domed stadium in hopes of bringing the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas.
Unlike the room tax, the sales tax increase would be paid by those that call Southern Nevada home as well, but committee members say it would also help make residents safer.
"What it does is it guarantees that some of this law enforcement presence stays on Las Vegas Boulevard," said Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak. "The part that is generated there, the part that is generated in your local convenience store or your local shopping center if you are in Downtown Summerlin or the Outlet Mall is going to be spent in the community."
The proposal calls for a two-tier distribution of the tax.
The first tier would go to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for use within the resort corridor. The second tier would be distributed to police throughout the county based on population.
Experts estimate the tax would generate $7.8 million annually for police protection on the Strip, which leaders say is necessary.
"If there were, heaven forbid one incident on the Strip it could destroy this town. It would be such a devastating blow that we don't even want to contemplate it," Sisolak said.
At the Aug. 25 SNTIC meeting, Sheriff Joe Lombardo put the potential impact in perspective telling members that tourism fell 10 percent in Paris, France following the terrorist attacks in the city.
The committee will be discussing that proposal as a second plan that could make a 2005 tax increase permanent.
That .25 percent increase also adds to police fund, but is currently schedule to expire in 2025.
Both proposals would need approval from the governor and state legislature.
The committee is holding another meeting regarding the stadium Thursday.
