Clark County will pay $10 million to the federal government after officials voted to approve the deal Tuesday.
The County Commission voted Tuesday to approve a settlement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) that resolves a 2017 lawsuit against the county for leasing land for less than its market value.
The commission agreed to the settlement in order to “avoid the delay, uncertainty and expense of litigation,” according to the agreement.
The DOJ first filed the lawsuit in September 2017, alleging that Clark County had leased a parcel of land owned by the Bureau of Land Management to a golf course management company for well below its fair value. market, in violation of the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act.
That company, Nevada Links, will also pay $1.5 million as part of the settlement.
According to a letter the DOJ sent before the lawsuit, a 2011 lease amendment by the county and gambler Billy Walters that set the property’s annual rent at $100,000 violated the law.
In the letter, sent in August 2017, the DOJ also required the county to pay $75.5 million in unpaid rent for the Bali Hai Golf Club site.
The settlement also resolves claims without the county or Nevada Links admitting liability.
The federal prosecutor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
