It is the Chamber’s role to create, develop and utilize policies and practices that will provide pro-business representation on legislative and local policy matters affecting our membership.

The NLVCC will take positions on key legislative and regulatory issues facing the business community. The public policy agenda provides direction to the NLVCC for developing positions on legislation and other public policy issues, acting on those positions, and monitoring and publishing the voting records of elected officials.

2009 Policy Statements:

State Budget Crisis
The NLVCC believes that government needs to conduct itself like a business (reduce unnecessary staff, mandate optimal operation efficiencies, align staff compensation with performance standards as opposed to step and longevity increases, etc.). NLVCC believes that neither cutting budgets nor raising taxes alone is the answer without changing the way government conducts its affairs. Government must pursue public-private partnerships wherever possible. Government should only do what the private sector cannot or will not do. Government must demonstrate that it can implement changes that result in efficiency. Employee compensation and benefit plans should be in line with what the private sector is able to offer. Any tax increases or new taxes identified for specific purposes would contain a sunset provision.

Taxes
The NLVCC understands the importance of maintaining the balance between a viable economic climate for local business and public agencies’ reliance on tax revenue.

The Chamber believes that no new or increased taxes, assessments, or fees that impact the business environment without reasonable benefit to business should be imposed. Any new taxes must be broad-based and not industry-specific. New taxes must not result in new public staff or bureaucracy.
The Chamber opposes any legislation that attempts to redistribute the majority of fees derived from the government services tax from the local municipalities back into the State budget.

Employer Free Choice Act (Federal)
The Chamber strongly opposes the Employee Free Choice Act also known as the Card Check Bill. The NLVCC believes that Card Check poses a danger to the right of individuals to vote through a private ballot and places unfair and expensive burdens on employers. The Chamber believes that employees should have the freedom to make the choice of joining a union without the threat of intimidation and coercion. The NLVCC supports the rights of businesses to negotiate with its employees in good faith without interference from outside parties.

Unfunded Mandates, Liabilities, & Deficit Spending
The Chamber opposes unfunded mandates levied on business by governmental initiatives, believing that these mandates are nothing more than a form of business tax. The Chamber also opposes the creation of unfunded or under-funded liabilities in state and local government budgets. The Chamber believes that government should be precluded from entering into retirement contracts with employee bargaining units that are insufficiently funded from inception. These pension liabilities weaken the financial health of our communities and need to be addressed to insure that local and state government does not collapse under this burden. The Chamber supports a budget concept that government cannot spend what it does not have except in the case of a declared emergency.

Property Taxes
The Chamber supports a property tax formula that represents a fair balance between residential and business. Acknowledging that property taxes represent a stable revenue platform, tax rates must remain reasonable in order to remain competitive with neighboring states.

Education
The Chamber supports funding education first in the State’s bi-annual budget provided it is at the same level as the previous budget plus CPI. Any additional funding approval beyond this level would be negotiated as part of the state’s budgeting process as handed by the Nevada Legislature.

The state’s education system needs to be funded at a level that ensures quality education.

Land Use, Zoning, and Environmental Regulation
The North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce supports the preservation of industrial and commercial zoned land. The Chamber believes that maintaining industrial and commercial lands ensures that the business climate will continue to flourish and expand thereby creating additional revenue for the city or county as well as providing jobs for its residents. The Chamber also supports and encourages including commercial and industrial zoned areas in existing and future master plans.

The Chamber opposes attempts to rezone land from industrial/commercial to residential in any areas east of I-15, in any areas where industrial/commercial already exist, and any areas that would impede future business growth and expansion.

The Chamber supports balanced land use policies.

Redevelopment
The NLVCC supports responsible redevelopment efforts in blighted areas throughout the valley. The Chamber believes that tax incentives and abatements are necessary to entice and induce viable reinvestment and economic opportunities into these areas thus creating jobs, improved property values, future fees, sales and property taxes.

Nellis Air Force Base
The NLVCC recognizes the economic, educational, social, and cultural contributions provided by Nellis Air Force Base.

The Chamber supports efforts to retain and optimize the use of Nellis and other military facilities in the Valley. The Chamber also supports programs and involvement designed to facilitate regular communication between the business community, military, and local government.

Regulatory Environment
The Chamber is committed to representing the interests of business with government. Legislation on any level of government must take into consideration the impact on business’ bottom line.

Initiative Efforts
The Chamber opposes the use of initiative processes as a way to circumvent the legislative process. The Chamber believes that initiative referendums are bad policy which spearheads the political interests of one group. Initiatives can and have resulted in unintended consequences that affect a larger group than the group leading the effort.

Transportation
The Chamber supports expansion, maintenance, funding, and timely completion of major thoroughfares such as I-15, the 215-Beltway, and the North 5th Corridor to facilitate necessary and efficient traffic flows. The Chamber supports the concept of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada’s (RTC) Regional Fixed Guide way (RFG) System with the understanding that as demands change over time, that Light Rail be an option for the future.

The Chamber supports the exploration of private-public partnerships to fund current and future highway and transportation projects.

Immigration Reform
The Chamber recognizes the economic impact from the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States. The Chamber supports a guest worker program recognizing the need for these workers in many of our industries; strengthening our borders; and determining a reasonable vehicle for citizenship for those already in the U.S. The Chamber believes that the level that currently exists to determine eligibility status is adequate and opposes expansion of employer’s obligation to determine eligibility for employment.