by Ky Plaskon

Education is the largest item in Nevada's budget and it's a battle when the legislature meets every two years. But Washoe County School District Superintendent Pedro Martinez says this time is different. He is asking the legislature to give his school board the power to raise some taxes.

MARTINEZ: "Then there is a shared responsibility between the legislators, the governor as well as our own school board because we are the closest to the residents we are the ones that should be hearing them so that they know we are going to be using the money effectively."

Martinez says even staunchly anti-tax organizations have remained neutral on the bill. It would limit sales tax increases to a quarter cent and hold property tax increases to an average of 8 dollars a month. That would raise 20 million a year. The district faces 160 million dollars in capital improvement needs over the next 2 years.