TRPA discusses gas tax idea with Carson Thursday

A Tahoe Regional Planning Agency representative provided Carson City supervisors Thursday with an overview of plans to impose a gas tax in the region to pay for environmental improvements.

Agency spokeswoman Pam Drum pitched the gas tax plan as one idea to help fund the improvements.

The agency's executive director, Juan Palma, called Mayor Ray Masayko and Supervisor Shelly Aldean shortly before the presentation.

Palma said he chose not to attend Thursday's meeting after U. S. Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., announced earlier in the week his "strong opposition" to the proposal, Aldean said.

Palma said he is reconsidering the program, she said.

Drum, who resigned her position with the agency Wednesday, proceeded with the presentation despite the announcement of Palma's decision.

She told the board the difficulties local governments in the basin are having with paying for operation and maintenance of environmental improvement projects installed within the past 20 years.

The federal gas tax would tack on 1 cent to 2 cents on the price of a gallon of gas at pumps in Washoe, Douglas, Placer and El Dorado counties and Carson City. The money would go to pay for local government costs to maintain the projects.

"We are basically having this discussion and going through this arduous exercise on behalf of local governments in the basin," Drum said.

Local governments are getting nervous about building projects to help preserve water quality in Lake Tahoe without having funds to maintain them, Drum said.

Carson City has no environmental improvement projects in the basin. Mayor Ray Masayko said he supports the idea of finding a funding source for the program and wants Carson City to help with the solution.

"We all share a certain connection to Lake Tahoe," Masayko said. A funding source needs to be found, he said.

Aldean, who also sits on the agency's governing board, was the only other supervisor to make comment about the proposal.

"Timing is everything in life and our timing is pretty pathetic," Aldean said, referring to the current record price of gasoline. She said she wanted Carson City to continue contributing to future discussions about the lake.

Two residents expressed their opposition to the gas tax.

-- In other action Thursday, the Nevada Department of Transportation gave a presentation to supervisors about tentative dates for the ongoing Carson City freeway bypass project.

Transportation Project Manager Jim Gallegos said he expects to get court orders and an official right-of-entry into the Lompa family property to finish the first half phase 1 of the freeway project, phase 1A, of by June 1.

Construction for the second phase, phase 1B, should begin in the fall and take up to three years to complete, Gallegos said. It is expected to be finished by early 2006, he said.

Planning and one-third of the design work for the second half of the freeway, from Highway 50 East to Highway 50 West, is estimated to be finished by the end of 2003.