CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada lawmakers passed a bill extending a payroll tax set to expire this summer in order to pay for some school safety initiatives and teacher pay raises.
The legislation, which became a source of contention between Democrats and Republicans in the final days of the session, now heads to Gov. Steve Sisolak's desk.
Democrats say extending the tax will put $72 million to teacher pay raises, a priority of Sisolak's, and add nearly $17 million to school safety funding.
Republicans opposed extending the tax, arguing that the state had other money to put toward the efforts.
GOP lawmakers also argued that Democrats needed two-thirds of lawmakers to vote in favor to extend the tax because state law requires a two-thirds vote to impose a tax.
Legislative lawyers disagreed and Democrats passed the bill on a majority vote.