Nevada bill clears first hurdle for NFL stadium that might lure Oakland Raiders
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) -- A bill to raise hotel taxes to fund an NFL stadium and a convention center expansion has crossed its first hurdle in the Nevada Legislature.
The Nevada Senate voted 16-5 on Tuesday to approve the measure. Democratic opponents have said they oppose putting public funds to a project backed by billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, while Republican opponents oppose raising taxes.
Lawmakers tweaked the bill since Monday. They added a provision to ensure small local firms get at least 15 percent of the work on the project.
The bill would raise hotel taxes by up to 1.4 percentage points in the Las Vegas area. It would yield $750 million for the stadium and $420 million for the convention center.
The measure now heads to the Assembly for consideration.