DAYTON - Dayton residents want more information before they can decide whether they would favor creating an unincorporated town.
Leading the effort to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of unincorporation, council member Ray Benefiel said now is a good time to be doing something before waiting until the community is forced into it.
"We are a growing community. We have to go through the process of being unincorporated before, at some time in the future, becoming incorporated," Benefiel said. "This fits in at this time. We need to start putting information together."
Most of the dozen or so residents in attendance at a special Dayton Regional Advisory Council meeting simply wanted to know what benefits unincorporation would offer to Dayton and at what cost.
Resident Don Dallas concurred it was a necessary step toward future incorporation, but was concerned with how much money could be raised within a Dayton taxing district.
"The Central Lyon County Fire District brings in about $24,000 for one cent taxed. If you take out Silver Springs, Stagecoach and Mound House you have, maybe, only one-third left," Dallas said. "Show me unincorporation will improve Little League fields, streets, etc. And we also have administrative issues to consider."
Dayton resident and Central Lyon County Park and Recreation Director Janette Hoffert said she was not necessarily against the move, but also wondered if the community could afford it.
"We have to do our homework. What is the purpose of doing it if we aren't going to use it to help the community?" Hoffert said.
With the need for a sound tax base from which to draw revenue establishment of town boundaries would be of primary importance. This raised questions of how they would be determined and whether residents would have the option of being included. Boundaries set for unincorporation would be used for future incorporation considerations.
During a presentation to the council in February 1999, Commissioner LeRoy Goodman said privileges of unincorporation include the receiving of some gas and state sales tax money, the ability to establish taxes, having a choice of taking over roads and having a regular elected board.
Resident Al Marsh was not at all in favor of Dayton taking over any self-governing responsibilities, noting that a similar effort several years ago was soundly defeated.
"I object to the California influence taking over our way of life and am happy with our current situation," Marsh said. "I have no problem at all driving to Yerington to do county business."
Benefiel will head up a committee to compile information. Results will be presented at a future town board meeting.
