In a broad sense, the Home Rule concept (or more local control) refers to local self-government and the power granted to the citizens of a local area to structure, organize and empower their local government. Under Home Rule, local governments have greater self-government within the greater administrative purview of state government. In the western United States, Montana, New Mexico, and Oregon allow local government to have a greater ability to determine their destiny. In Nevada, tax policy and distribution is in the control of the state government.
The cities of Reno and Sparks have no control over nearly 70 percent of the revenues that are derived in the cities. The State of Nevada has imposed expenditure limitations on the two cities based on outdated 1982 expenditure levels. Having more local control essentially frees the cities from that unrealistic restriction.
Local control allows the cities of Reno and Sparks to continue to provide the quality of services citizens are accustomed to in Police, Fire, Road, Parks, and local infrastructure needs. Continuing down the same road of state imposed restrictions will leave the cities vulnerable and unable to spend their own tax dollars to serve the needs we require today.
A greater amount of local control will simply give the cities the opportunity to use the money already collected in taxes without State controlled limitations. Just as any individual wants to manage their own home and resources, the citizens of Reno and Sparks, through their elected representatives, should be able to manager their collective "Home" and resources for their benefit.
In November 2006, Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County asked voters through an advisory question if they would support a one quarter of one percent sales tax increase for public safety issues such as hiring more police and firefighters. The issues passed in the two cities, but failed in the unincorporated areas of the County by a large margin. Subsequently, the measured failed. Had Home Rule been in effect, the cities may have been able to increase their respective sales tax for the specified purpose.
With greater local control, citizens have a greater voice in choosing where and how their tax money is spent. Voters could control the level of local taxation, including Business Licenses, Building Permits and Fee Structure, Property Taxes, Fuels taxes, Impact Fees, Residential Construction Tax, Court Fees and Charges, Room Taxes, Gaming Taxes and Redevelopment Taxes.