Business groups look to legislative session

Area business organizations are starting to put together their agenda for the next legislative session.

The Reno-Sparks and Carson City Area chambers of commerce, the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada and the Northern Nevada Development Authority last week completed a survey of their memberships to discover the hot-button issues.

More than 270 people from the four organizations responded to the survey, which collected opinions on such business issues as taxes, worker's compensation insurance and education.

It will be a few weeks before survey results are tabulated, but a few key findings have already been identified, according to Michael Pennington, policy director for the Reno-Sparks chamber.

For one, based on one survey question, the chamber may launch more education efforts around the state's new taxes.

The question asked respondents if they were paying more in taxes under the new modified business tax, which taxes a business' payroll, than they did under the previous employee head tax that the new payroll levy replaced.

One-third of respondents to the question either were not sure or said they did not have enough information, leading the chamber to think its members may need more education about the issue, said Pennington.

Another interesting finding, said Pennington, was concern about the state's water supplies and service.

According to early calculations, about 60 percent of respondents said they consider water issues a priority or high priority.

The Reno-Sparks chamber already knows that worker's comp costs will be a lobbying priority, too.

Pennington said that Nevada needs to be particular vigilant now that California has passed a comprehensive bill to repair its worker's comp system there.

"When you look at the bigger picture, Nevada is not competitive across the country," said Pennington.

The chamber also plans to pay closer attention to state spending this upcoming session, he said, because last session everyone was consumed by the tax fight.

The chambers and economic development authorities are already focusing on the next legislative session, which doesn't start for another eight months, because of some looming deadlines, said Pennington.

By the end of August, for example, the state's agencies have to file their budgets as well as their bill draft requests.