OUR RESEARCH

This policy brief provides an overview of the performance of district-sponsored charter schools in the state’s two largest urban school districts, the Clark County School District (CCSD) and Washoe County School District.

This week, southern Nevada residents are bracing for another excessive heat wave. Around the Silver State, air conditioning companies and their heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) technicians are in high demand during the hot summer months.

The subject of Question 3: The Energy Choice Initiative—namely the proposed restructuring of Nevada’s electricity markets—is complex. Supporters and opponents of Question 3: The Energy Choice Initiative are providing data and arguments that appear to conflict with each other. This voter information guide addresses some of the questions voters may have about this ballot measure. (July 2018)

The subject of Question 3: The Energy Choice Initiative—namely the proposed restructuring of Nevada’s electricity markets—is complex. Supporters and opponents of Question 3: The Energy Choice Initiative are providing data and arguments that appear to conflict with each other. This policy report summarizes and evaluates the primary arguments for and against passage of Question 3.

The Guinn Center compared enrollment, demographics, and performance metrics across traditional—i.e., non-virtual—state-sponsored public charter schools, district-sponsored public charter schools, and district public schools, as well as virtual state-sponsored public charter schools and virtual district public schools.

Three northern Nevada law enforcement agencies – the Reno Police Department, Sparks Police, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office – commissioned the Guinn Center to review best practices as outlined in the Final Report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing (2015); identify gaps in current policies and procedures within and across the three law enforcement agencies against the Task Force’s itemized best practices; and propose actions for implementation that address the gaps. Amo

Nevada’s 2017-2019 biennium budget amounts to approximately $26.2 billion. Federal funds account for more than one-third (34.3 percent) of all revenues in the biennium budget. Federal revenues also flow into Nevada’s non-profits and local and county governments. This policy brief summarizes federal revenue streams in Nevada in recent years.

Question WC-1: Truckee River Flood Management Authority Funding Question is a Washoe County ballot question that proposes to impose an additional property tax rate in the amount of $0.0248 per $100 of assessed value for the purpose of funding a Truckee River flood prevention project and to allow the Truckee River Flood Management Authority to issue up to $89 million of general obligation bonds to finance this project.

Question 6: The Renewable Energy Promotion Initiative is a statewide constitutional ballot initiative that will be placed before Nevada’s registered voters at the November 6, 2018, General Election. Question 6 proposes to double the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) from 25 percent by 2025 to 50 percent by 2030. This voter information guide seeks to answer some of the questions voters may have about this ballot measure. (2018)

Question 5: The Automatic Voter Registration Initiative is a statewide statutory ballot initiative that proposes to amend State law from an “opt-in” voter registration system to an “opt-out” system. When completing a transaction through the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), such as an application for a new driver’s license or a Nevada Identification Card, individuals would be registered to vote automatically unless they affirmatively decline in writing their intent to opt out of voter r

This fact sheet provides information on the Medical Patient Tax Relief Act, a ballot question for the November 2018 election in Nevada. The measure seeks to provide a sales and use tax exemption for durable medical, oxygen delivery and mobility enhancing equipment. The fact sheet discusses the effects the initiative could have on state tax revenue, who in the state might benefit from the exemption, and how Nevada’s tax policy for these types of medical equipment compares with other states.

Question 2: The Amendment to the Sales and Use Tax Act of 1955 is a statewide statutory ballot initiative that proposes to exempt certain feminine hygiene products, defined specifically as sanitary napkins or tampons, from sales and use taxes in Nevada, the Local School Support Tax (LSST), and other analogous taxes, such as those that provide revenue to local governments.

Question 1: Marsy’s Law, which will be considered by voters on November 6, 2018., seeks to amend the Nevada Constitution to remove current provisions for victims’ rights and replace them with a new “victims’ bill of rights.” This voter information guide seeks to answer some of the questions voters may have about this ballot measure.

Medicaid is a health coverage program for eligible low-income individuals that is administered by the states under federal requirements and jointly funded by the federal government and states. Nevada’s Medicaid Program provides medical assistance to more than half a million low-income adults and children in the state. This policy brief presents some selected characteristics of Nevada’s Medicaid beneficiaries.

In 2017, the U.S. Congress took action to amend the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), or modify certain existing federal income tax provisions as they pertain to individuals and businesses. a The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation on November 16, 2017, referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). On December 2, 2017, the U.S. Senate passed its version of the TCJA. As the House and Senate bills are not identical, the two pieces of legislation must be reviewed by a conference committe

In 2017, the U.S. Congress took action to amend the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), or modify certain existing federal income tax provisions as they pertain to individuals and businesses. The bill is known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). This policy brief highlights major provisions in the congressional TCJA proposal as they relate to Nevada and to individual taxpayers only. (December 2017)

Clark County School District (CCSD) has announced that it faces a budget shortfall of $60 million. In a recent memo, CCSD wrote, “Over the past few years, the revenue increases we have received from the state, from county property taxes and from the sales tax have not allowed us to keep up with our rising employee costs and other increasing expenses.” This infographic looks at the budget and per pupil funding over time.

We examined data from CCSD’s Turnaround Zone, which suggests that the Turnaround Zone has not significantly changed the academic trajectories of the district’s worst-performing schools. Despite higher graduation rates, the Turnaround Zone treatment effect has not provided graduating students with skills to ensure post-secondary success, evidenced by lower college-going rates and higher remediation rates.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1628, the American Health Care Act (AHCA) of 2017, on May 4, 2017, and the U.S. Senate released a discussion draft for its version of the bill, the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) of 2017, on June 22, 2017; both bills seek to roll back the Medicaid expansion, amongst other provisions.We evaluate Medicaid funding in Nevada from a budgetary standpoint, examining expenditures and revenues for the program. We conclude with an assessment of the fina

During the 79th Legislative Session, the Nevada Legislature passed a Nevada Promise program (Senate Bill 391), which was implemented in Fall 2017. This policy report presents data on higher education attainment in Nevada, surveys the potential need for a Promise program in Nevada, reviews a selection of Promise programs around the country, summarizes recent legislation to launch a Promise program in Nevada, and describes the impact of said programs around the country.

This policy brief begins with a brief overview of the relationship between property taxes and K-12 Education Funding.