Clark County staff outlines six state-level priorities after Association of Counties meeting

Jordan Bogey, a county staff member, told the Clark County Council on May 20 that the Association of Counties' legislative steering committee had settled on several priorities for the 2027–28 state sessions that matter to county finances and operations. He said the group focused first on county revenue loss tied to Senate Bill 6346, a recently passed measure that levies an income tax on higher earners while reducing some sales-tax collections.

"This bill is a decently significant revenue hit to counties," Bogey said, explaining that the measure reduces both state and local sales-tax collections and that counties will seek ways to be made whole before the tax takes effect. He identified public defense funding and workload standards as the second priority, saying counties face increasing obligations following recent court decisions. "Counties are going to have even a tougher time than they already are in meeting their obligations to provide constitutional public defense," he said.

Bogey listed liability reform as a third priority, describing insurer exits and higher litigation costs that make it harder for counties to obtain coverage for services such as jail medical care. He said the association plans to convene a work group to explore possible legislative fixes. The report also flagged jail modernization as a funding priority: Bogey said WASAC is considering a statewide capital grant program that could provide partial funding for county jail upgrades.

On fiscal mechanics, Bogey described concerns about sales-tax rebate programs tied to clean-energy projects, noting that local governments may have to hold local sales-tax receipts for several years while projects qualify for state rebates. "Local governments are getting harmed because they're having to hold on to these monies," he said, urging state backfill options. He also said the association expects movement on short-term rental taxes and will push to ensure counties receive a portion of any state-collected revenue.

Chair Marshall confirmed he participated in the WASAC meeting on behalf of the county and noted the county’s annual membership cost, saying the association is a primary avenue for state-level advocacy. No formal county action or vote followed the report; staff said the briefing will inform future discussions about state lobbying and any proposed county positions.