Senate Bill No. 473–Committee on Government Affairs
(On Behalf of Legislative Committee to Study the
Distribution Among Local Governments of
Revenue From State and Local Taxes)
March 18, 1999
____________
Referred to Committee on Government Affairs
SUMMARY—Creates procedure for dissolution or disincorporation of certain local governments in severe financial emergency under certain circumstances. (BDR 31-702)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.
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EXPLANATION – Matter in
bolded italics is new; matter between brackets
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1-1
Section 1. Chapter 354 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto1-2
the provisions set forth as sections 2 and 3 of this act.1-3
Sec. 2. 1. If the executive director determines that a severe1-4
financial emergency which exists in a local government under1-5
management by the department is unlikely to cease to exist within 31-6
years, he shall determine:1-7
(a) The amount any tax or mandatory assessment levied by the local1-8
government must be raised to ensure a balanced budget for the local1-9
government; and2-1
(b) The manner in which the services provided by the local2-2
government must be limited to ensure a balanced budget for the local2-3
government,2-4
and submit his findings to the committee.2-5
2. The committee shall review the findings submitted by the executive2-6
director pursuant to subsection 1. If the committee determines that the2-7
severe financial emergency which exists in the local government is2-8
unlikely to cease to exist within 3 years and that the findings made by the2-9
executive director are appropriate, the committee shall submit its2-10
recommendation to the Nevada tax commission. If the committee2-11
determines that the financial emergency is likely to cease to exist within 32-12
years, that decision is not subject to review by the Nevada tax2-13
commission.2-14
3. The Nevada tax commission shall schedule a public hearing2-15
within 30 days after the committee submits its recommendation. The2-16
Nevada tax commission shall provide public notice of the hearing at least2-17
10 days before the date on which the hearing will be held. The executive2-18
director shall provide copies of all documents relevant to the2-19
recommendation of the committee to the governing body of the local2-20
government in severe financial emergency.2-21
4. If, after the public hearing, the Nevada tax commission2-22
determines that the recommendation of the committee is appropriate, a2-23
question must be submitted to the electors of the local government at the2-24
next primary or general municipal election or primary or general state2-25
election, as applicable, asking whether the local government should be2-26
disincorporated or dissolved. If the electors of the local government do2-27
not approve the disincorporation or dissolution of the local government:2-28
(a) The maximum ad valorem tax levied within the local government,2-29
if any, must be raised to $5 on each $100 of assessed valuation;2-30
(b) Any other taxes or mandatory assessments levied in the local2-31
government, notwithstanding any limitation on those taxes or2-32
assessments provided by statute, must be raised in an amount the Nevada2-33
tax commission determines is necessary to ensure a balanced budget for2-34
the local government; and2-35
(c) The services provided by the local government must be limited in a2-36
manner the Nevada tax commission determines is necessary to ensure a2-37
balanced budget for the local government.2-38
5. If the electors of the local government approve the2-39
disincorporation or dissolution of a local government that is:2-40
(a) Created by another local government, it must be disincorporated2-41
or dissolved:2-42
(1) Pursuant to the applicable provisions of law; or3-1
(2) If there are no specific provisions of law providing for the3-2
disincorporation or dissolution of the local government, by the entity that3-3
created the local government. If, at the time of the disincorporation or3-4
dissolution of the local government pursuant to this paragraph, there are3-5
any outstanding loans or bonded indebtedness of the local government,3-6
including, without limitation, loans made to the local government by the3-7
county in which the local government is located, the taxes for the3-8
payment of the bonds or other indebtedness must continue to be levied3-9
and collected in the same manner as if the local government had not3-10
been disincorporated or dissolved until all outstanding indebtedness is3-11
repaid, but for all other purposes the local government shall be deemed3-12
disincorporated or dissolved at the time that the entity which created the3-13
local government disincorporates or dissolves the local government. Any3-14
other liabilities and any remaining assets shall revert to the entity that3-15
created the local government which is being disincorporated or dissolved.3-16
(b) Created by a special or local act of the legislature, it may only be3-17
disincorporated or dissolved by the legislature. The executive director3-18
shall submit notification of the vote approving the disincorporation or3-19
dissolution of the local government to the director of the legislative3-20
counsel bureau for transmittal to the legislature. At the first opportunity,3-21
the legislature shall consider the question of whether the special or local3-22
act will be repealed.3-23
(c) Created in any other manner, it must be disincorporated or3-24
dissolved:3-25
(1) Pursuant to the applicable provisions of law; or3-26
(2) If there are no specific provisions of law providing for the3-27
disincorporation or dissolution of the local government, by the governing3-28
body of that local government. If, at the time of the disincorporation or3-29
dissolution of the local government pursuant to this paragraph, there are3-30
any outstanding loans or bonded indebtedness of the local government,3-31
including, without limitation, loans made to the local government by the3-32
county or counties in which the local government is located, the taxes for3-33
the payment of the bonds or other indebtedness must continue to be3-34
levied and collected in the same manner as if the local government had3-35
not been disincorporated or dissolved until all outstanding indebtedness3-36
is repaid, but for all other purposes the local government shall be deemed3-37
disincorporated or dissolved at the time that the governing body of the3-38
local government disincorporates or dissolves the local government.3-39
Except as otherwise provided in this subparagraph, any other liabilities3-40
and any remaining assets of the local government shall revert to the3-41
board of county commissioners of the county in which the local3-42
government is located. If the local government is located in more than3-43
one county, the governing body of the local government shall apportion4-1
the remaining liabilities and assets among the boards of county4-2
commissioners of the counties in which the local government is located.4-3
6. Within 10 days after the Nevada tax commission makes a4-4
determination pursuant to subsection 4, the executive director shall4-5
notify:4-6
(a) The city clerk, if the local government is a city; or4-7
(b) The county clerk in all other cases,4-8
and provide the clerk with the amount any tax or mandatory assessment4-9
levied by the local government must be raised and a description of the4-10
manner in which the services provided by the local government must be4-11
limited to ensure a balanced budget for the local government.4-12
7. After the executive director notifies the city clerk or the county4-13
clerk, as applicable, pursuant to subsection 6, the clerk shall cause to be4-14
published in a newspaper of general circulation that is printed in the4-15
local government a notice of the election once in each calendar week for4-16
2 successive calendar weeks by two weekly insertions a week apart, the4-17
first publication to be not more than 30 days nor less than 22 days next4-18
preceding the date of the election. If no newspaper is printed in the local4-19
government, publication of the notice of election must be made in a4-20
newspaper printed in this state and having a general circulation in the4-21
local government.4-22
8. The notice required pursuant to subsection 7 must contain the4-23
following information:4-24
(a) That the Nevada tax commission has determined that the severe4-25
financial emergency which exists in the local government is unlikely to4-26
cease to exist within 3 years;4-27
(b) That the question of whether the local government should be4-28
disincorporated or dissolved will be submitted to the electors of the local4-29
government at the next primary or general municipal election or the next4-30
primary or general state election, as applicable; and4-31
(c) That if the electors do not approve the disincorporation or4-32
dissolution:4-33
(1) The maximum ad valorem tax levied within the local4-34
government, if any, will be raised to $5 on each $100 of assessed4-35
valuation;4-36
(2) Any taxes or mandatory assessment levied in the local4-37
government will be raised to ensure a balanced budget for the local4-38
government and the amount by which those taxes or mandatory4-39
assessments will be raised; and4-40
(3) The services the local government provides will be limited to4-41
ensure a balanced budget for the local government and the manner in4-42
which those services will be limited.5-1
9. If any provisions providing generally for the disincorporation or5-2
dissolution of the local government require that the question of5-3
disincorporating or dissolving be published or submitted to a vote of the5-4
electors of the local government, the publication required by subsection 35-5
and the election required by subsection 4 satisfy those requirements. If:5-6
(a) There is any other conflict between the provisions of this section5-7
and any provisions providing generally for the disincorporation or5-8
dissolution of a local government; or5-9
(b) The provisions providing generally for the disincorporation or5-10
dissolution of a local government provide additional rights to protest the5-11
disincorporation or dissolution of a local government not provided by5-12
this section,5-13
the provisions of this section control a disincorporation or dissolution5-14
pursuant to this section and any person wishing to protest such a5-15
disincorporation or dissolution must proceed in accordance with the5-16
provisions of this section.5-17
10. As used in this section, "local government" does not include a5-18
county, a school district or any agency or department of a county or city5-19
which prepares a budget separate from that of the parent political5-20
subdivision.5-21
Sec. 3. The management of the department ceases at the time of the5-22
disincorporation or dissolution of a local government pursuant to section5-23
2 of this act.5-24
Sec. 4. NRS 354.59811 is hereby amended to read as follows: 354.59811 1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 354.59813,5-26
354.59815, 354.5982, 354.5987, 354.59871, 354.705, 450.425, 540A.2655-27
and 543.600 ,5-28
session and section 2 of this act, for each fiscal year beginning on or after5-29
July 1, 1989, the maximum amount of money that a local government,5-30
except a school district, a district to provide a telephone number for5-31
emergencies, or a redevelopment agency, may receive from taxes ad5-32
valorem, other than those attributable to the net proceeds of minerals or5-33
those levied for the payment of bonded indebtedness and interest thereon5-34
incurred as general long-term debt of the issuer, or for the payment of5-35
obligations issued to pay the cost of a water project pursuant to NRS5-36
349.950, or for the payment of obligations under a capital lease executed5-37
before April 30, 1981, must be calculated as follows:5-38
(a) The rate must be set so that when applied to the current fiscal year’s5-39
assessed valuation of all property which was on the preceding fiscal year’s5-40
assessment roll, together with the assessed valuation of property on the5-41
central assessment roll which was allocated to the local government, but5-42
excluding any assessed valuation attributable to the net proceeds of5-43
minerals, assessed valuation attributable to a redevelopment area and6-1
assessed valuation of a fire protection district attributable to real property6-2
which is transferred from private ownership to public ownership for the6-3
purpose of conservation, it will produce 106 percent of the maximum6-4
revenue allowable from taxes ad valorem for the preceding fiscal year,6-5
except that the rate so determined must not be less than the rate allowed for6-6
the previous fiscal year, except for any decrease attributable to the6-7
imposition of a tax pursuant to NRS 354.59813 in the previous year.6-8
(b) This rate must then be applied to the total assessed valuation,6-9
excluding the assessed valuation attributable to the net proceeds of minerals6-10
and the assessed valuation of a fire protection district attributable to real6-11
property which is transferred from private ownership to public ownership6-12
for the purpose of conservation but including new real property, possessory6-13
interests and mobile homes, for the current fiscal year to determine the6-14
allowed revenue from taxes ad valorem for the local government.6-15
2. As used in this section, "general long-term debt" does not include6-16
debt created for medium-term obligations pursuant to NRS 350.085 to6-17
350.095, inclusive.6-18
Sec. 5. NRS 354.655 is hereby amended to read as follows: 354.655 As used in NRS 354.655 to 354.725, inclusive, and sections 26-20
and 3 of this act, unless the context requires otherwise:6-21
1. "Committee" means the committee on local government finance.6-22
2. "Department" means the department of taxation.6-23
3. "Executive director" means the executive director of the department6-24
of taxation.6-25
4. "Local government" means any local government subject to the6-26
provisions of the Local Government Budget Act.6-27
5. The words and terms defined in the Local Government Budget Act6-28
have the meanings ascribed to them in that act.6-29
Sec. 6. NRS 354.695 is hereby amended to read as follows: 354.695 1. As soon as practicable after taking over the management6-31
of a local government, the department shall, with the approval of the6-32
committee:6-33
(a) Establish and implement a management policy and a financing plan6-34
for the local government;6-35
(b) Provide for the appointment of a financial manager for the local6-36
government who is qualified to manage the fiscal affairs of the local6-37
government;6-38
(c) Provide for the appointment of any other persons necessary to enable6-39
the local government to provide the basic services for which it was created6-40
in the most economical and efficient manner possible;6-41
(d) Establish an accounting system and separate bank accounts, if6-42
necessary, to receive and expend all money and assets of the local6-43
government;7-1
(e) Impose such hiring restrictions as deemed necessary after7-2
considering the recommendations of the financial manager;7-3
(f) Negotiate and approve all contracts entered into by or on behalf of7-4
the local government before execution and enter into such contracts on7-5
behalf of the local government as the department deems necessary;7-6
(g) Negotiate and approve all collective bargaining contracts to be7-7
entered into by the local government, except issues submitted to a7-8
factfinder whose findings and recommendations are final and binding7-9
pursuant to the provisions of the Local Government Employee-7-10
Management Relations Act;7-11
(h) Approve all expenditures of money from any fund or account and all7-12
transfers of money from one fund to another;7-13
(i) Employ such technicians as are necessary for the improvement of the7-14
financial condition of the local government;7-15
(j) Meet with the creditors of the local government and formulate a debt7-16
liquidation program;7-17
(k) Approve the issuance of bonds or other forms of indebtedness by the7-18
local government;7-19
(l) Discharge any of the outstanding debts and obligations of the local7-20
government; and7-21
(m) Take any other actions necessary to ensure that the local7-22
government provides the basic services for which it was created in the most7-23
economical and efficient manner possible.7-24
2. The department may provide for reimbursement from the local7-25
government for the expenses it incurs in managing the local government. If7-26
such reimbursement is not possible, the department may request an7-27
allocation by the interim finance committee from the contingency fund7-28
pursuant to NRS 353.266, 353.268 and 353.269.7-29
3. The governing body of a local government which is being managed7-30
by the department pursuant to this section may make recommendations to7-31
the department or the financial manager concerning the management of the7-32
local government.7-33
4. Each state agency, board, department, commission, committee or7-34
other entity of the state shall provide such technical assistance concerning7-35
the management of the local government as is requested by the department.7-36
5. The department may delegate any of the powers and duties imposed7-37
by this section to the financial manager appointed pursuant to paragraph (b)7-38
of subsection 1.7-39
6. Except as otherwise provided in section 1 of7-40
Bill No. 275 of this session and section 2 of this act, once the department7-41
has taken over the management of a local government pursuant to the7-42
provisions of subsection 1, that management may only be terminated7-43
pursuant to NRS 354.725.8-1
Sec. 7. NRS 361.453 is hereby amended to read as follows: 361.453 Except as otherwise provided in NRS 354.705 ,8-3
1 of8-4
act, the total ad valorem tax levy for all public purposes must not exceed8-5
$3.64 on each $100 of assessed valuation, or a lesser or greater amount8-6
fixed by the state board of examiners if the state board of examiners is8-7
directed by law to fix a lesser or greater amount for that fiscal year.8-8
Sec. 8. This act becomes effective on July 1, 1999.~