Final rounds in water battle

With only one more bite at the apple before commissioners take end debate over consolidating the county's eight water systems' finances, we assume Thursday's discussion on the issue will be a lot longer than the hour proposed.

Meeting in the old Minden Fire Station No. 1, commissioners face some tough arguments from residents of the largest of the county's water systems, East Valley, who will end up footing some of the bill for customers in smaller water systems.

Several of those arguments will center on the question, "Why should we pay to fix other people's water systems?"

That assumes of course that everyone in the county doesn't have to pay at some level for other basic services enjoyed by a few.

"Why should we have to pay taxes to support the schools when we don't have children?"

The answer is in most cases that the service provided is part of the county's duty to provide for the basic health, safety or welfare of its residents. If water doesn't come under one or several of those categories, we're not sure what does.

Providing water is a basic function. It's not something the county can stop doing unless it's also willing to purchase the homes served by the water system. We're betting that would cost a lot more than increasing the water rates.

The alternative to consolidating the water systems is to do what the county's done in the past, which is to subsidize their operation on the backs of the taxpayers.

But if it's not fair for ratepayers in the East Valley to help those at Lake Tahoe, or Sheridan Acres, how fair is it for someone who isn't even on a county water system to help them?