With rising property taxes on the minds of residents throughout Nevada, the issue of tax relief is at the forefront of local and state officials' agendas for 2005. On Friday, January 7, the Department of Public Administration at UNLV's Greenspun College of Urban Affairs will present a special conference exploring a variety of approaches to property tax relief, inviting local and state officials and interest groups to join in an interactive dialogue with national experts. This one-day conference will be held at UNLV's Foundations Building from 9:30 AM-3:30 PM.

"Our goal in presenting this conference is to bring Nevada's leaders together, provide resources and facilitate meaningful dialogue on this very important public issue," said UNLV President Carol C. Harter. "Our Department of Public Administration has assembled an outstanding panel of national experts to provide unique insights and experiences from other states which have struggled with property tax issues. It promises to be a provocative and exciting forum."

The conference's morning session will include presentations focused on the implementation of property taxes, possibilities for reform, and the lessons learned from other states. The afternoon will feature a roundtable discussion exploring the possibilities and implications for property tax changes in Nevada. Scheduled presenters for the conference include:

• Gary Cornia, Stewart Grow Professor of Public Management at BYU's George W. Romney Institute of Public Management. Dr. Cornia is a former president of the National Tax Association and commissioner on the Utah State Tax Commission.
• Andrew Reschovsky, Professor of Applied Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Robert M. LaFollette School of Public Affairs. Dr. Reschovsky also served as a member of the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Tax Analysis.
• Howard Chernick, Professor of Economics, Hunter College/City University of New York. A consultant to the Republic of South Africa on intergovernmental funding, Dr. Chernick conducts research and advises governments on spending and taxation.

A variety of local and state officials, business leaders and interest groups from around the state are expected to participate in this session. In addition to facilitating dialogue on property tax policy, conference organizers hope that the day's sessions will produce a list of feasible alternatives for Nevada, with advantages and disadvantages of each.