Brothel tax a tough sell in Nevada

CARSON CITY, Nev., Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Brothels in Nevada have offered to join the state's tax rolls, but find themselves rebuffed by politicians despite a large state budget gap.

George Flint, director of the Nevada Brothel Association, has been lobbying to have the state's 25 legal brothels pay taxes, The New York Times reported Monday.

With a tax behind it, "the state's not going to view you as a relic ... and put you out of business," Flint said.

Brothels, legal since 1971, pay a $100 annual state fee and taxes to local communities. But even with the state expecting a $1.8 billion shortfall this year, politicians are not jumping on the bandwagon to tax brothels.

Gov. Jim Gibbons' budget proposal includes 6 percent pay cuts for teachers and a 36 percent reduction in spending on higher-education.

Still, politicians do not want to be seen as adding further legitimacy to prostitution.

Incoming state Senate Taxation Committee Chairman Bob Coffin has said he will review the issue in a hearing next month.

Flint, however, said, state House Speaker Barbara Buckley told him, "as bad as it is ... I don't think we want to go there."