Fernley backs bill draft to help small cities finance infrastructure equipment

Fernley City Council unanimously approved moving forward with a 2027 bill draft request that would let the Nevada Infrastructure Bank finance certain capital equipment for small municipalities.

Barry Williams, the city’s chief operating officer, said staff vetted several legislative concepts and recommended a small‑municipality capital infrastructure financing concept that would expand the definition of eligible projects under NRS Chapter 226. Mindy Elliot of Summit Government Affairs, who led the presentation, described eligible items as capital assets directly tied to infrastructure preservation — for example, snow‑and‑street removal equipment, dump trucks, excavators and utility vehicles — and said the proposal is designed "to give smaller municipalities another responsible financing tool to preserve the infrastructure that they already own."

Elliot emphasized the proposal is not a state vehicle purchase program but a targeted financing authority that would rely on the Infrastructure Bank and its underwriting standards. She said she had discussed the concept with the state treasurer, who indicated legislative authority would be required. Councilman Torres moved to adopt the concept as the city's bill draft request and to authorize the mayor and city representatives to advocate for the measure; the motion passed 4–0.

Council members called the approach pragmatic for a city with a relatively small tax base and noted staff will continue stakeholder outreach and draft language work with the treasurer's office and Legislative Counsel Bureau before the Sept. 1 BDR deadline.