Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Las Vegas council approves request to pursue 2027 bill draft to extend Fire Safety Initiative
Summary
City staff recommended and the council approved asking the Legislature for a bill draft to extend the Fire Safety Initiative property-tax override (no tax increase) to preserve funding for stations, apparatus and staffing; presenters warned the city could lose an estimated $172 million over five years if funding lapses.
City officials on Aug. 5 presented and the Las Vegas City Council approved a recommendation to ask the Nevada Legislature for a 2027 bill draft request (BDR) to authorize extension of the Fire Safety Initiative property-tax override.
Randy Robinson, the city's director of government and community affairs, told the council that the BDR would aim to "extend that fire safety initiative property tax override ... keep that funding at the same level as it is now and has been for the last 30 years. No tax increase." City Manager Mike Jansen and Fire Chief Fernando Bray outlined capital needs, staffing and timing behind the request. Jansen said design and construction for a replacement of Fire Station 103 is nearly $22,000,000, and estimated several other station projects at roughly $25,000,000 apiece. Chief Bray said Las Vegas responded to more than 125,000 calls in calendar year 2025 and that roughly 85% of call volume is medical (EMS) related; he noted a three-year lead time to receive ordered apparatus.
Presenters warned of a funding cliff if the measure is not extended. Jansen said the city would "lose a $172,000,000 over the 5 year period from fiscal year 32 to fiscal year 36" if the initiative is not renewed, limiting the city's ability to bond for large projects and to procure equipment and staffing. Chief Bray gave specific unit-cost examples: "a fire engine today will actually cost about $1,200,000," and ladder-truck units exceed $2,000,000, making multi-year procurement planning necessary.
Mayor Pro Tem moved that the council adopt the staff recommendation as the city's top BDR priority for 2027; the council approved the motion by voice vote. City staff said the BDR must be filed by Sept. 1 to begin drafting language with the Legislative Counsel Bureau.
The council's action is a direction to staff to pursue the bill-drafting process; any final statutory language, legislative hearings and voter approvals (if required) would follow state procedures and are not taken by the council at this meeting.
