Written by Robert   

One of my classmates at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas told me about an argument he had with a lady about the education crisis currently going on in Nevada. She was complaining that her taxes were too high to pay for anybody's education here.

What?

Nevada has no state income tax and an incredibly low property tax which is based on 35% of the value of the home. Compare that with California which has a high state income tax and a property tax based on the full value of the home.

UNLV is in the process of cutting 33 degree programs and 315 jobs from the school. And it seems as if people that live here are just willing to allow that to happen without giving one ounce of help. I have the perfect idea, but it isn't popular with anyone at all. Institute a state income tax.

The median household income for Nevada in 2009 according to StateHealthFacts.org is $53,964. The total number of residents in the state of Nevada in 2009 was 2,601,000 people. The average household in Nevada consists of four people. Assuming that two parents work, take 1.3 million people, multiply half of the average income to that and you get $35.1 billion.*

That is an impressive number. The amount of tax I suggest is 3% or three dollars for every 100 made. That would bring in over $1 billion dollars to the state of Nevada. just from a 3% income tax increase.* Explain to me how in this day when people are willing to spend $6 a day on a latte that we can't give $3 of every $100 we make to help fund education???

*These figures are based on numbers taken from statehealthfacts.org