- Other Business owners complain of unfair competition -
When researching material for the Studyof Nevada’s Prison Industry Program (released in January), I discovered that in addition to several steel fabrication companies, several other industries and manufacturers have come forward saying they’ve also been compromised by Nevada’s prison industry. These businesses include; embroidery (Carson City), truck manufacturing (water trucks for construction use), auto restoration and repairing (classic cars) and companies involved in repackaging and/or resale of returned or refurbished goods.
In addition to those industries being victimized, any Nevadan that registers a motor vehicle, trailer or semi that requires a license plate is also being forced to contribute to the profits of the prison industry.
Under a contract with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the prison industry receives $.50 for every license plate “manufactured” and distributed in Nevada. This fee appears to be in addition to the current contract between the NDOC prison industries and the BMV that sets pricing for the production of license plates. Wording of AB 473 makes the payment mandatory and the money deposited to a dedicated Prison Industry Fund. Vehicles requiring two plates (front and back) are charged an additional $1.00 per vehicle per year.
Sounds like small change for each vehicle owner – $.50 or $1.00 but with an estimated 2 million vehicles registered annually in Nevada the prison industries is expecting to receive a continuing windfall from this amended legislation. When added to debts owed by private companies partnered with prison industries (2012 Accounts Payable and Outstanding were in excess of $600,000) the state owned and controlled “company” Silver State Industries continues to reap benefits from taxpayers. They claim that SSI is self-sufficient and relies upon no tax dollars or appropriations for their operations, but what’s been discovered refutes that claim. Could it be the license plate fees paid to the prison industries will be used to offset industry losses – at the expense of taxpayers who register their vehicles?
An unanswered question…since most consider registering their cars and paying for licensing a state “tax” for owning a vehicle, are Nevadans actually paying a $.50 cent tax per plate to the Prison Industries?
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