The City manager is the administrator for the day-to-day municipal operations and also maintains inter-governmental relationships with other levels of government (federal, state, local).

Las Vegas Housing Industry and Labor Force

The housing industry is a reflection of the city's constant population growth. In one recent year alone, more than 21,000 new homes and 26,000 resale homes were purchased and more than 1/3 of all Las Vegas homes are five years old or less. The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in 2007 was $900. As the valley runs out of commutable housing space, high-rise condominiums are the vision for the Las Vegas of tomorrow.

Most rental properties in Las Vegas come with fees that might otherwise be unexpected. There is an "application fee" of approximately $25-50, which covers the cost of verifying application information. There is also a one-time, non-refundable "cleaning fee" upon moving in. Sometimes called an administrative fee, this can run anywhere from $75-$200.

Most places will also demand a security deposit of $75-300, which is refundable upon moving out. Properties that allow pets also require a deposit which may be fully, partially or non-refundable. More than one pet can be problematic, as not all properties will permit such an arrangement, and it can be expected that in some instances, a higher deposit will be charged for additional pets. Landlords reserve the right to set their own policies on which pets they will accept and how much they will charge.

The labor force in Las Vegas expands constantly as people continue to move to the region in record numbers (approximately 6,000 per month). The Clark County School District is the city's major single employer, but collectively that honor goes to the entertainment and service industries. New businesses are encouraged, both by Nevada's lenient tax structure and the fact that the state offers a number of attractive programs. Some of these include: tax deferral programs, renewable energy abatements, industrial development bonds, global trade program, community development, block grants and others.

Las Vegas Cost of Living

According to the ACCRA Cost of Living Index for Las Vegas, the most recent data cites 109% of the US average.

Las Vegas Industries and Commerce

Although tourism remains the city's primary industry, many technology companies have found a lucrative home in Las Vegas and they either relocated or were created there. There is a large concentration of companies specializing particularly in the electronic gaming and telecommunications industries. Some current technology companies in the area include:

Bigelow Aerospace
Comm Partners
Datanamics
Vital Communications
Petroglyph
Skywire Media
Switch Communications
Westwood Studios (sold to Electronic Arts)
World Doc
Systems Research & Development (Sold to IBM)
Yellowpages.com (sold to Bellsouth and SBC)
MPower Communications

Las Vegas Hotels and Casinos

There are 113 hotels in Las Vegas! On the Las Vegas Strip itself there are at least 38 large ones to choose from, most of them containing at least 1,000 rooms. A few of the most popular hotels on the Strip include:

The Wynn, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd S. (800) 851-1703
The Venetian, (702) 414-1000
Paris Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Blvd S. (800) 851-1703
Caesar's Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd S. (702) 731-7172
The Sahara, 2535 S. Las Vegas Blvd (702) 737-2111
Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd S. (702) 662-7777
The Hard Rock, 4455 Paradise Road, (702) 693-5000
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, 3779 Las Vegas Blvd S., (702) 891-1111

Off the Vegas Strip Favorites

Green Valley Ranch, 2300 Paseo Verde Pkwy, (702) 617-7777
Fairfield Grand Desert Resort, 265 E. Harmon Drive, (702) 691-7777

Las Vegas Museums

The Gallery of History Museum, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd South, (702) 364-1000
Guinness World Records Museum, 2780 Las Vegas Blvd South, (702) 792 3766
Hollywood Movie Museum, 305 Convention Center Drive, (702) 733-2243
Liberace Museum, 1775 Tropicana Avenue, (702) 798-5595
Las Vegas Natural History Museum, 900 North Las Vegas Blvd, (702) 384-3466
Lied Discovery Children's Museum, 833 North Las Vegas Blvd, (702) 382-3445
Lost City Museum, 721 S. Highway 169, (702) 397-2193
Nevada Institute For Contemporary Art, 3455 E. Flamingo Rd, (702) 434-2666
Nevada State Historical Society, 700 Twin Lakes Drive, (702) 486-5205
The Atomic Testing Museum, 755 East Flamingo Road, (702) 794-5161
Elvis-a-Rama Museum, 3401 Industrial Road, (702) 309-7200
Guggenheim Hermitage Museum, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd S, (702) 414-2440
King Tutankhamen's Tomb & Museum, 3900 Las Vegas Blvd S, (702) 262-4555
Neon Museum, The Fremont Street Galleries, (702) 387-NEON

More Vegas Sights To See

The most popular place in the world from which to visit the Grand Canyon and Death Valley is Las Vegas. Lake Mead and Hoover Dam are both about 1/2 hour away and Yosemite is a few hours drive.

The Valley of Fire State Park clams more than 200,000 visitors per year and Red Rock Canyon and the Spring Mountains, with their ample camping and skiing facilities are local favorites as well.

No one should miss the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef, which contains almost two million gallons of water and is almost 22 feet deep. More than 1,200 species of exotic marine life, including sharks, call this aquarium home. This spectacular sight mirrors the movement of an ancient temple as it sinks forever under the waves.

Bugsy Siegel Memorial

For a vicarious thrill and a unique bridal party portrait, consider the "Bugsy" Siegel memorial, which marks the only spot in Las Vegas that formally acknowledges The Mob. The bronze plaque can be found at the end of a canopy in front of the Flamingo Hotel-Casino. The original hotel stood on the site of the garden and swimming pool of this newer one. In Siegel's day, he always stayed in the "presidential suite," which was outfitted with bullet-proof windows and a ladder hidden in a closet, which led to an underground garage and a getaway limo that was always on call. Still, they got him in one of those moments when he was caught off guard reading the newspaper.

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