Every law-abiding citizen in Douglas County supports law and order, and appreciates the fine job done by the sheriff's office. Most people, like myself, also support the need for an improved senior center to provide necessary services to our senior citizens, especially those in need. But I have serious reservations about the proposed ballot measures that would raise the sales tax to pay for them.
Proponents of Advisory Question No. 1 remind us that our county population has grown by 81 percent during the last 15 years, but that staffing at the sheriff's office has increased by just 28 percent in that same time period. Much of the problem is caused by the rate of growth. The master plan calls for a rate between 2 percent and 3.5 percent, yet our growth has been well above that. The voters passed an initiative in 2002 to slow growth, but that has also been ignored by Douglas County.
Why has the staffing not kept up with population growth? The answer is clear: because residential growth does not pay for itself. The faster we grow, the further we get behind in our infrastructure. The master plan states that "in order to protect both the county's financial and natural resources, the county should adopt a building permit allocation system." More than 10 years into our master plan, the county has still failed to do this, which is an important reason why we now have financial problems.
The senior center is a similar issue. Ten years ago the current facility was completely adequate. Yet after a decade of uncontrolled growth, it is now too small. Another quote from the master plan: "Uncontrolled growth rates make it difficult for the county to keep up with expanded needs for roads, water, sewer, and other facilities" - facilities like the senior center. The county has repeatedly failed to enact the growth controls called for in the master plan, yet now they come to us with their hand out asking existing citizens to pay for the effects of uncontrolled growth.
The other issue is priorities. Each of us in our daily lives must make financial choices and decide on priorities. The county does the same. In April 2005 the sheriff's office requested 12 new positions, yet they were given just one. Meanwhile, the Community Development Department (who assess new developments and issue building permits) was given four new positions. Apparently the county thought that accommodating uncontrolled growth was more important than law and order.
Now we hear of county plans for an $8 million parking garage, mainly for county employees. How many new sheriff's deputies would that have paid for? Relate this to your personal finances: if baby needs a new pair of shoes, you don't go out and buy a new plasma TV, then claim poverty and ask someone else to pay for the shoes. Yet this is essentially what the county is asking us to do: to pay for their past mistakes and misguided priorities.
In its introduction, our master plan states that "most residents agree that new development should pay its own way and should not be a burden on existing residents." But growth has not paid for itself, and now existing residents are being asked to foot the bill. Even though encouraging talks about controlling growth have been going on recently, so far it is just that: talk.
To date, the county has failed to control growth, and they are now asking us to pick up the tab. The county needs to re-address its priorities. Douglas County needs to get its house in order. Once the county implements real growth controls and sorts out its priorities, they can come to us for help. In the meantime, I urge residents to vote against these new taxes.
n Jim Slade is a Gardnerville resident.
