Voters urged to pay now or pray later

Douglas County voters were asked Wednesday whether they're willing to pay extra to maintain quality of life. But an opponent of two advisory questions on the November ballot said he thinks there are alternatives to raising taxes.

The Business Council of Douglas County, The Record-Courier, and the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Authority sponsored a three-hour election forum at the CVIC Hall that attracted 150 residents.

Undersheriff Paul Howell and Lt. Keith Logan presented the arguments in favor of advisory Question 1 which seeks a sales tax increase of one-half of 1 percent.

If approved by voters and the Nevada Legislature, the tax increase would generate $5.2 million annually for law enforcement and the judicial system.

Proponents said the tax would cost each person about $17 per year and argued that 45 percent would be paid by nonresidents and tourists shopping in Douglas County.

"This county has experienced a tremendous growth, but the sheriff's office has the same number of officers as 15 years ago," Howell said.

Sheriff Ron Pierini told the audience that a half dozen officers were patrolling the county's 750 square miles even as the forum proceeded.

"I don't want everyone to go home and put padlocks on their doors," he said. "We live in a good community, but it's a changing community."

Pierini said residents wanted to see patrol cars in their neighborhoods but personnel were restricted to responding from one call to another.

He said the county received 93,000 calls for service last year.

Carson Valley resident Jack Van Dien, a 4-year resident and retired financial manager, said he hadn't decided how to vote. But he argued that too much money was tied up in wages and benefits and he feared that would be what happened to the sales tax increase.

"If we have a down turn, the sales tax decreases," he said. "Housing is sort of collapsing. We could wind up in a pinch if there's a recession.

"I'm disturbed the reason manpower has lagged behind is because of wages and benefits. It's reached the point where growth can't pay for itself. The more growth and business you have, the higher your taxes have to go."

Logan said the county was seeking a "holistic approach" to solving the community's needs and estimated the tax increase would be meet the department's needs for at least 10 years.

"We're your security guards out there," Pierini said. "If we fall behind, we'll end up like a lot of communities trying to catch up. If you vote for this, you'll leave behind a legacy that will last for nine to 11 years and benefit your children and your grandchildren."

Van Dien also was drafted to debate Question 2 which asks voters to approve a separate sales tax increase of one-quarter of 1 percent that would benefit the senior center, libraries, parks and recreation programs, and agriculture.

Most of the discussion was directed at plans for a "modest" center primarily to benefit the county's 12,000 seniors, but described as multigenerational to provide recreation for all ages.

Paul Lockwood, president of the Young at Heart senior group, said Douglas County's 30-year-old senior center is the worst in the state.

"I can attest to that," he said. "I've visited every center in the state. It's 30 years old and decaying."

Kelly Gardner, a member of the Douglas County Parks Commission, said a community center has been proposed for 45 years.

"Its need is undisputed," Gardner said. "It's horrible to see seniors forced from home because the county can't provide services to maintain independent living."

Van Dien argued that a new senior center would allow 180 more seniors to use the dining facility.

"It doesn't serve a very large portion of the community," he said.

The tax increase, estimated to generate $2.6 million in new revenue annually, would allocate $1.6 million to construction, operation and maintenance of the community center.

The remaining $1 million would be split between parks and recreation and the library, and preserving agricultural lands.

"It seems to me every time we want to build a building, the county says we want to do it with debt," Van Dien said.

He suggested the county divert funds the county is investing in redevelopment to a new center.

"With a little bit of cash management, in two or three years I think they could write a check for this building," Van Dien said.

Gardner said it would be illegal for the county to do that. She said the tax increase made the most economic sense and would cost an individual $9 annually.

"Just because you live in a $2 million house in Genoa, someday you may need Meals on Wheels or senior services or day care for an Alzheimer's patient. Don't be too apathetic about senior services," Lockwood said.