College of Southern Nevada economics professor and NFA-CSN chapter president Dr. Shari Lyman explains in a panel discussion aired on KNPR’s “State of Nevada” radio show.  If you missed this Monday broadcast (8 Feb. 2010), hear it here (the first half-hour of a two-segment program).

For example: Our beloved gaming corporations pay far higher tax rates in other states, and they happily compete for gaming market share in states with gaming tax assessments as high as 20% (Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri), 35% (Indiana), and 50% (Indiana and Pennsylvania).  Nevada asks for a measly 6.75. By not increasing our gaming tax rate and collecting more revenue from these corporations to support our public schools, colleges, and universities, we are helping to fund these other states’ public schools, colleges, and universities.

Let’s put Nevada public education first!  Please, Mr. Wynn, may we have the 8% you pay in New Jersey and Mississippi?

CNBC’s third annual survey of “America’s Top States for Business ’09″ ranks our state 47th in overall business competitiveness and 49th in education spending and achievement.  In commitment to and success in educating youth and adults, only Mississippi does a poorer job than we do.  Have we become the “Mississippi of the West” again?

Why is higher education so essential to the creation of a strong pro-business climate in any state?  As the authors of CNBC’s survey report explain, “Not only do companies want to draw from an educated pool of workers, they want to offer their employees a great place to raise a family. Higher education institutions offer companies a source to recruit new talent, as well as a partner in research and development.”

How are we going to diversify our economy, bringing new, skilled, and highly paid jobs to Nevada, if we’re about to maim and cripple our higher education institutions with deep and severe state funding budget cuts?