Revenue isn’t only what we collect. It’s what we choose not to collect. Back in May, we raised concerns about the cumulative impact of Nevada’s tax giveaways on our ability to adequately fund schools. While districts are cutting staff, services, and opportunities, the state continues to give away revenue to large corporations.
Nevada has given hundreds of millions of dollars in public support to professional sports, and data centers which are perhaps the most egregious example of this misplaced priority. We’ve said schools over stadiums, schools over studio, and now, schools over servers.
We are not against economic development, but the best long-term economic development strategy is a top-tier public education system and a well-prepared workforce.
For far too long, Nevada has called corporate subsidies ‘investments’ while public education is called “spending.” When billion-dollar industries come asking for public money, we're told it's an investment. When educators urge the legislature and governor to Seriously, Pass The Plan, we’re told to be realistic.
We hear constantly about what Nevada cannot afford. But somehow, when a billionaire owner, a data center developer, or a Hollywood studio comes to Carson City, the conversation changes from "How will we pay for it?" to "How much do you need?"
Just last week, the Raiders, already beneficiaries of $750 million in public funding, are now asking for another $75 million to upgrade a 6-year-old stadium.
Next summer, John Fisher’s A’s intend to tap into public financing approved for their new stadium.
After 3 failed attempts to expand Hollywood Tax Credits, including a very unsuccessful Special Session, GOED has pre-filed a BDR for the 2027 Session.
Data centers received nearly $238 million in tax breaks in 2023 and 2024 alone, nearly a quarter-billion that Nevada chose not to collect.
Stadiums. Servers. Studios. There always seems to be another subsidy, and another reason Nevada should give away revenue. But when it comes to adequately funding our schools, suddenly, the money is not there. Meanwhile, Nevada remains $4000 behind the national average with the largest class sizes in the country.
Too often, we are most generous to those who need us the least. Our educators are not getting 20-year tax abatements. Not the para filling up her car. Not the school custodian buying groceries. Not the new teacher paying rent.
The Commission on School Funding has already given us a plan to fully fund our schools. When it comes to revenue, Nevada can’t continue to be more generous to sports teams and server farms than to the Nevadans who teach our kids, drive their buses, prepare their meals, and keep our schools running. Seriously, Pass the plan.
NSEA strongly supports the proposed BDR to repeal Nevada’s data center tax giveaways and enact a moratorium on new data centers.
When NSEA appeared before this Committee in May, we raised concerns about the cumulative impact of Nevada’s tax giveaways on our ability to adequately fund public schools. While school districts are cutting staff, services, and opportunities for students, the state continues to give away revenue to large corporations.
Data centers are perhaps the most egregious example of this misplaced priority.
There is no good policy argument to subsidize an industry that is already rapidly expanding. Data centers place significant demands on infrastructure and resources while receiving substantial tax breaks that should support the communities where they operate. Our argument is not against economic development. It is about what kind of economic development Nevada should pursue.
This issue extends beyond data centers. Just last week, we learned that the Raiders are seeking another $75 million in public funds. Nevada has already provided enormous public subsidies for professional sports. Why are public dollars continually available for large corporations while our public schools are told to make do with less?
As we said in May, the best long-term economic development strategy is building a top-tier public education system and a well-prepared workforce that can sustain economic growth without giveaways.
The Commission on School Funding developed a plan to adequately fund Nevada's public schools. That plan requires additional, stable revenue. We cannot seriously pursue that goal while continuing to erode the tax base through corporate abatements. Today, you have an opportunity to move Nevada in a different direction.
Stop giving away the revenue we need to invest in our students, educators, and communities. And Seriously, Pass the Plan. Thank you.
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