Not from Genoa? Genoa wants you anyway, maybe

Genoans said they were ready to begin exploring the idea of expanding the town's boundaries.

All five members of the Genoa Town Board voted to approve a resolution asking the county to begin examining the benefits and pitfalls of annexing adjoining parcels.

Nearly 50 people, many of whom live on the parcels proposed for possible annexation, attended the meeting on Tuesday night in the Genoa Town Hall.

Marion Vassar, who lives outside the town boundaries, asked the question that was repeated by several other residents.

"Why would I sign a petition that says I want to raise my taxes?" Vassar said.

Phil Ritger said he thought one of the advantages would be that residents would get to keep some money close to home.

"Now our taxes go to the county," he said. "If we do this then we would have a pool of money and a boundary so instead of fighting with Douglas County, we would only have to fight with Genoa."

Board member Jack Pettit said questions of the cost of annexation go both ways with the town potentially gaining a liability that exceeds the tax benefits.

Town Board chairman Bill Donohoe pointed out that Genoa's total income from ad valorem is $24,000 of the town's $250,000 budget. The vast majority of that budget is earned at Candy Dance.

Genoa Lakes resident John St. Peters said that between the homeowners' dues and the money residents had to pay for the water system, there didn't seem to be much the town could do for them.

Lifetime town resident Bill Brooks pointed out that the towns of Gardnerville and Minden had larger tax bases they supplemented with funds from events.

"In Genoa, we're unique, we do things differently," he said. "Eighty-five percent of the town's $250,000 budget comes from Candy Dance. Two successive bad Candy Dances and the town is insolvent. It is not a stable tax base."

Brooks said he figured out that living in Genoa cost him $123 a year or about 33 cents a day.

"If you were to triple that it would be $1 a day," he said. "That's less than a cup of coffee. For that you would have an equal say in the future of the town. I invite you to join us or at least help us with the Candy Dance."

Donohoe suggested anyone living in the vicinity of the town who was interested in being annexed should apply rather than wait for the investigation to proceed.

"Anyone requesting annexation has a pretty good chance of coming in."