Nevada voters rejected by fewer than 3,400 votes a constitutional amendment that would have removed a 5 percent cap on mining industry taxes. Some 535,000 votes were cast for and against the initiative in unofficial results. The 5 percent cap dates back to 1864, when Nevada became a state. Removing it would have allowed taxes to go up, or down.
If the measure passed, it wouldn't have immediately increased taxes paid by the powerful mining industry. That's because the state Legislature in 2013 adopted a law that would have kicked in to provide a variety of tax exemptions. Mining supporters say the industry pays hundreds of millions of dollars in sales and other taxes, provides high-paying jobs, and supports Nevada communities in many ways.
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