Blatant abuse? – the last grasp for power? – Letter to the Editor

Robert Maccario of the Virginia City Highlands submitted this Letter to the Editor. He suggests that If the Commissioners give TRIC our money to directly improve the profitability of the Park and it’s clients with zero direct benefit and they approve “Item 13” then it’s time to “Recall them All”.

We stand with Bob.

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Blatant abuse? – the last grasp for power?

Thursday night’s meeting was well orchestrated for taxpayers- thank you Jay! The absence of marketing spin was greatly appreciated. I do appreciate Austin Osborne’s participation. With his honest comments like “in Theory” and “hopefully” he made it perfectly clear he was not there to “sell” SB1

But SB1 Is only one issue threatening Storey County taxpayers.

#1 Let’s start with SB1.

According to Austin, this is a $35,000,000 Bond, Storey County taxpayers are going to be held partly responsible for repayment. It is marketed as a private industry/government partnership. It is to build a water pipe from Sparks to bring effluent water to TRI. We are told increases in tax revenue will pay for it. Heard that somewhere before? Still waiting for property taxes to be adjusted because of our windfall tax revenue from TRI?

• If TRI thinks this is such a good deal, why don’t they do it with their money? Is it possible it just has to do with using someone else’s money when possible? If it is such a good deal and taxpayers decide not to do it- they will do it with their dollars, as it should be.
• “it will be paid for by “THEIR” tax dollars. There is no such thing as “THEIR” tax dollars.

They are not paying the Bond off directly, nor on the line for the Bond. All tax dollars come into the County. The County pays the debt service with OUR tax dollars.

• OBTW- if there is a surplus of tax dollars, we, the taxpayers get to keep it. Below is an example of how these great promises have been working:

“As the Broker of Record, L. Lance Gilman received a 6% real estate commission on 29.1 million or $ 1,746,000 and according to the Storey County website, we got $32,000 in real property transfer tax. Peanuts.” 

• As presented, this will attract more companies out to TRI because of the water. Therefore, the water will make the property more valuable.
• The question is; if the property is more valuable, what percent of the increase value do the taxes represent? As a simple example if the tax were 4%, then seller would get 96% of the increased value. Why would taxpayers go at risk with this Bond for a 4% payback that may only cover the debt service, BUT the Seller gets 96% of the increased value?
• We were told that the water in OUR pipeline belongs to TRI. I have no idea of the logic behind why it is “THEIR” water.
• TRI is going to resell the water to the companies at TRI. If this really is private business/government partnership, we the taxpayers should have the right to charge a usage fee on OUR pipeline to cover OUR portion of the Bond, ongoing maintenance AND expect a reasonable return on OUR investment.

 

#2 NEXT- Item 13 at the next Commissioner meeting, as was mentioned at the Thursday night meeting;

#13 Discussion only, No Action). Workshop on revision the County Manager’s job description on possible alternatives including approving an {sic} ordinances, enacting policies, or using a contract.

A quote from an involved taxpayer:

“County ordinances have the force of law. The Commissioners want to give the authority to make law to a county employee who will be able to do that out of sight of the public.”

Several questions arise:

• Why Would our Commissioners want to give this power to an unelected county employee?
• What could possibly be the motivation for our Commissioners to give any employee the ability to make law without being held responsible to the taxpayers?
• Why would any county employee think they should have this power?

The motivations are highly suspect on all three counts.

• Unless at the direct orders of the Commissioners for the county employee to put this on the agenda, it should be immediate grounds for termination of the employee.
• It is not the way democracy should work- anyone with any ethics in that position could resign under protest before putting this on the agenda. An ethical employee could count on the taxpayer’s support!

NOTE to TAXPAYERS- the above is only the information we know about- could it just be the tip of the iceberg?

For clarification;

Does Kris Thompson speak for TRI as an employee OR are his comments to be taken as Commissioner Gilman’s point of view and his stand on these issues?

“TRI owners put $100 million in cash into Storey County building infrastructure betting on the come” – Kris Thompson

Isn’t Storey County at risk for $45,000,000 – and we don’t share in the profits?

“The track record of this County in attracting global leading businesses (including Google, ebay, amazon, jet.com, zullily, Walmart, Berkshire-Hathaway, etc etc) is unsurpassed in the world over the last decade.” – Kris Thompson

“unsurpassed in the world over the last decade” – So are the broken promises to the taxpayers regarding the windfall our benefits. So far, who has been the big winner?

“all residents of this County can be very very proud –“

Can we pay our property taxes with a note saying “I’m very very proud to owe you this money?

As this commentary started- Blatant abuse? – the last grasp for power?

If our Commissioner vote in favor any of these actions-

MAYBE IT’S TIME TO MAKE SURE IT IS THEIR LAST GRASP FOR POWER.

If there are favorable votes on either one on these issues from our elected officials, It’s time to marshal the energy of concerned taxpayers in Storey County. A VALID RECALL action should be immediately considered by the taxpayers.

Bob Maccario – Virginia City Highlands

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Should we Recall them All?

Let them know how you feel.

Pat Whitten – County Manager

• pwhitten@storeycounty.org
• 775-847-0968

Austin Osborne – Assistant County Manager, Human Resources Manager, Planning Director and whatever else Pat has him doing. Austin has the most hats of any working person in Storey County.

• aosborne@storeycounty.org
• 775-847-0968

Marshall McBride – County Commissioner

• mmcbride@storeycounty.org
• 775-847-0968

Lance Gilman – Brothel Owner, TRIC executive and County Commissioner

• lgilman@storeycounty.org
• 775-847-0968

Jack McGuffey

• jmcguffey@storeycounty.org
• 775-847-0968