Lyon commissioners to revisit transportation tax issue

The cost of building in Lyon County may go down at least 15 cents per square foot if county commissioners lower a transportation tax added to new construction.

The tax, currently at 65 cents per square foot, pays for road maintenance in the fast-growing rural county.

The issue will be revisited at the Lyon County Commission's meeting at 10:45 a.m. Thursday.

County Manager Donna Kristaponis, who last month proposed the tax be lowered to 50 cents per square foot, said she didn't offer any additional changes to that proposal.

"We have five commissioners with five different ideas," she said. "They are talking about different ideas, and I'm sure we'll come forward with something. But at this point my crystal ball is decidedly clear."

The 50 cents per square foot is the same amount Douglas County charges.

Commission Chairman Bob Milz said the tax probably was too high.

"It's warranted that probably we need to come down," he said. "My feeling is that industry and commercial development is what pays the biggest share of taxes and we need to attract those businesses."

Milz said the amount of the change will be negotiated. "One commissioner had set 10 cents. Donna has suggested 50 cents, and my guess is it will be somewhere in between."

The tax took effect Jan. 1 after being authorized by Lyon County voters last fall.

"When we originally did that, we put it on the ballot and the folks approved it," Milz said. "We didn't really consider it in terms of industrial and commercial (buildings). We just considered residential and the roads that we would need."

n Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.

What it means

The cost of building in Lyon County could go down by15 cents per square foot if county commissioners lower a transportation tax added to new construction.

If you go

WHAT: Lyon County Commission meeting

WHEN: 9 a.m. Thursday

WHERE: 27 S. Main St., Yerington

CALL: (775) 463-6531