ELKO – State Controller Ron Knecht is asking local businesses to help fight the state’s new commerce tax by getting registered voters to sign a referendum petition. Knecht gave a brief history lesson Monday on why Nevada businesses are facing a gross receipts tax this year. Knecht said they put in the commerce tax at “the last minute.”“Previously gross receipts tax proposals would have hit all businesses with the same rate,” he said. Unlike the earlier margins tax, there are no exemptions for the commerce tax, Knecht said. The petitions must be notarized and then filed in each county, so Elko County registered voters must sign an Elko County petition.