Nevada Lawmakers Will Weigh Football Stadium Subsidy

LOS ANGELES — Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has called a special legislative session to consider financing for a National Football League stadium in Las Vegas.

The proposed Las Vegas Convention Center expansion is also on the agenda for the special session slated for Monday.

The governor said he will issue a proclamation outlining the agenda for the special session on Sunday.

Lawmakers will discuss raising the hotel room tax rate in the Clark County to finance $750 million of a $1.9 billion stadium for the Oakland Raiders football team.

"My staff and I have had extensive discussions with legislative leadership and it's time for the full body to begin its deliberations on the recommendations of the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee," Sandoval said in a statement.

The committee was charged with looking at an array of plans to invest in Nevada's tourism industry by providing for the infrastructure and public safety needs of the 21st century. It came back with a football stadium and the convention center expansion.

"As I have said before, we can and must usher in a new era for tourism in the Las Vegas market, while keeping our citizens and visitors safe, and ensuring our position as the global leader in entertainment and hospitality," Sandoval said.

During the special session, legislators also will discuss education funding proposals and other budget items to help plan for this upcoming year's biennial budget.

The Nevada legislature is one of only four states that have biennial sessions. The governor must submit the proposed executive budget to the legislature no later than 14 days before regular session, which begins the first Monday of February.

Reviews by the state's fiscal staff of department heads and agency budget requests indicate a budget shortfall, the governor said.

"When the first draft is released next week there will be a shortfall based on current projections," Sandoval said. "Nevada is once again one of the fastest growing states in the nation and the demands of growth include more children in our schools and additional pressure on state services."

The governor said he sees an opportunity during the special session to "get ahead of the budget challenges" and that he will add language to the session guidelines to ensure education funding is stable for the upcoming biennium. He said he plans to recommend a minor adjustment to the lodging tax for a temporary solution supporting education.

The governor also said he plans to create a separate working group, spearhead by Sen. Scott Hammond to work on the state's Education Savings Account program, a school choice program.