Carson City Mayor Marv Teixeira is giving up his spot on the U.S. Conference of Mayors in favor of joining another lobbying group that represents municipalities, the Nevada League of Cities.
"It's not that I don't have any regard for the Conference of Mayors, it's just that for the information we get back, the League of Cities is better for us," Teixeira said.
Both organizations provide their members with information on impending legislation and programs for cities, but the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which represents cities with populations greater than 30,000, focuses more on national politics than state. As a member of the state League of Cities, Carson City will have access to the federal-oriented National League of Cities as well.
Considered a county as well as a city, Carson City already belongs to the Nevada Association of Counties. The city has belonged to both organizations in past years but dropped its League of Cities membership a few years ago while struggling with lean budgets.
The Carson City Board of Supervisors voted last week to drop the membership to the mayoral organization and redirect the $5,000 membership dues toward Nevada League of Cities membership, which will cost $16,844.
The rest of the membership costs will come from reductions in the Carson City manager's budget, according to city manager staff.
The city could have become an affiliate-member of the league for about $4,000 less, but wouldn't have had a spot on the group's board of directors, where members have a strong role in creating the league's legislative platform.
The Nevada League of Cities represents 24 cities, towns and special districts in Nevada.
n Contact reporter Cory McConnell at cmcconnell@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.
