School Funding, Powered by AI. Oh, The Irony.
NEVADA - Nevada is betting big on data centers. Now, one of the state’s largest teachers unions is arguing that those same data centers could help bring in hundreds of millions of dollars for public education.
It sounds like a pretty good deal. But Nevada has heard promises like this before. For decades, the state has offered businesses tax breaks with the promise of jobs, investment and future tax revenue. This week, Battle Born Bytes asks whether data centers are really the next big solution for Nevada schools, or whether taxpayers should be asking a few more questions first.
The Clark County Education Association, which represents more than 18,000 educators, has proposed ending the 2.6 percent Local School Support Tax abatement for data centers. The union says the change could generate up to $500 million a year for Nevada schools.
The episode also examines the role of longtime Nevada economic consultant Jeremy Aguero, whose work has included data centers, Tesla, Switch and Nevada’s education funding system, and looks at Governor Joe Lombardo’s recent executive order establishing new requirements for data centers seeking tax abatements.
With data centers requiring enormous amounts of electricity, infrastructure and water, the question is not simply how much economic activity they bring to Nevada. It is also who pays for the resources they require and how much the public receives in return.
The full episode is available on YouTube.
Daniel Howat, Creative Lead with Battle Born Progress, issued the following statement:
“There’s something pretty strange about needing giant buildings full of computers to help solve a problem we’ve struggled with for generations. Data centers are being sold as the future, but the questions around them are very old: What are we giving up to get companies here, and what do we actually get back? Nevada has spent years betting that tax breaks today will turn into public revenue tomorrow. That makes it worth taking a hard look at whether this deal is actually different, or just a new version of an old promise.”
ABOUT Battle Born Bytes: Battle Born Bytes is a digital media series produced by Battle Born Progress focused on breaking down complex political, economic, and policy issues affecting Nevadans through accessible, research-driven video explainers.
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About Battle Born Progress: Battle Born Progress, through strategic communication efforts, empowers, engages and mobilizes Nevada voters to build a state where everyone has a fair opportunity to succeed. We support, engage, and mobilize the progressive community through bold leadership, strategic communications, accountability, and education. We are on the cutting edge of new media and are the go-to source for progressive issues and advocacy for traditional media.
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