Community Development, capital improvements, and the necessary funds to fund social services through tax revenue continue to serve as a link between neighboring Carson City, Douglas, Lyon, Storey, and Mineral counties.

The Northern Nevada Development Authority welcomed the return of four of its returning speakers – Carson City Manager Nancy Paulson, Douglas County Manager Patrick Cates, Mineral County Commission Chairman Cassie Hall, and Story County Manager Austin Osborne. NNDA also welcomed new Lyon County Manager Andrew Haskin.

Conservative Budget Carson City

Carson City Manager Nancy Paulson said the city continues to plan for its future, focusing on critical infrastructure projects and deferred maintenance, building up reserves and budgeting conservatively.

In 2022, the total fund balance was higher than expected at $20.4 million, about $7.4 million more than the City had estimated, with revenues of about $2 million likely to increase in 2022, she said. due to unfilled vacancies.

Paulson noted that overall the fund’s balance sheet was indeed down from $26 million in fiscal 2021, but said there was “no need to panic just yet” as the city’s reserves are intact for now. Last year’s sales tax increase had an impact, she said.

She said Carson City’s priority to remain financially strong in 2023 is to maintain an adequate level of funding and upgrade its bond rating. She said the public doesn’t usually like to listen conservatively to city budgets, but the higher their bond rating, the lower the interest rate they support.

Douglas County Opportunities

Douglas County Manager Patrick Cates reported that the area has seen 5.3% growth since 2010, with a faster aging population over 65 at 26.4%, above the national average of 15.2%. Those who are or will soon be retired make up about 38.7% of Douglas’ population, up from 22.3% of the national population.

Cates stated that in fiscal year 2021-22, property taxes remained the county’s largest source of revenue at 38%, with 21% of funding funded by intergovernmental revenue sharing, 20% by premises taxes, and the rest by capital or operating grants or sales taxes.

“One of my goals is to increase the amount of federal funds that we put into the county,” he said, referring to projects such as the Carson Valley Medical Center, which is currently expanding 54,000 square feet to help the elderly population. . who could rely on such dollars to expand medical services and capital improvement opportunities.

Cates also cited Barton Health’s regional expansion at Stateline, turning the former Lakeside Inn and Casino into a new hospital. He also said the expansion of US-based AVK Co., for which the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development approved about $1 million in tax credits in December, would provide about 60 jobs at the 130,000-square-foot foundry. The project will be launched in late spring 2024.

Cates said the Tahoe Blue Center, a planned 5,500-seat arena, is slated to open in July and will offer attendees a boardroom and conference rooms, as well as employment opportunities.

Cates shared that he is excited about the Muller Parkway project, a collector road between South Gardnerville and North Minden that will help relieve congestion on US 395, scheduled for completion later this year, and the Art in Public Spaces project.

Jessica Garcia / Nevada Conversion

Lyon County Manager Andrew Haskin presents a financial update on Lyon County at the annual State of the Counties event hosted by the Northern Nevada Development Authority on Wednesday.

Lyon County Capital Improvements

The NNDA hailed Haskin, who announced that the county commission had approved his contract at its Jan. 19 meeting.

Haskin announced that Lyon’s total revenue for fiscal year 2022 is down slightly to $42.5 million from $43.6 million in 2021. to capital projects. The county’s ending 2022 fund balance was approximately $10.7 million.

Haskin reviewed some of Lyon’s ongoing projects, including the Aspen Creek Rapid Infiltration Basin, which will build a 1.4 million gallon per day Rapid Infiltration Basin and upgrade the current Rolling A Pumping Station. He described a 10-mile water reservoir at hill to be built with a road over US 50, as well as a second 300-foot bridge that has been identified for the eastern end of the Dayton Valley to connect to Chavez Road. The bridge will provide a right of way across Bureau of Land Management property and other facilities, Haskin said, and the county is currently seeking funding opportunities for design and construction.

He also discussed updating the county’s drainage master plans to ensure they are consistent with current maps and developer flow data. Lyon is working on new master plans for two watersheds and with the Caron Water Subservancy District for Stagecoach and North Silver Springs, he said.

“Improvements to the proposed plans are very expensive, so it will take us a long time to develop and work through mitigation measures, but at least planning them allows us to develop a plan for the capital renovation of the premises and a plan for the future,” he said. said.

The number of building permits for single-family residence permits has been increasing year on year since 2022, he said, and while they are not available for January, he said they will likely show the same.

Lyon saw new development last year, including the expansion of the Webstaurant distribution center in Dayton, which is up about 620,000 square feet from its previous 350,000 square feet. The Tradition master planned community owned by D.R. Horton has applied for or received 44 residential building permits, with site improvements to be completed in Phase 2, totaling 65 lots. Haskin said the developer plans to begin work on Phase 3 soon, with a total of 61 lots.

In addition, Haskin revealed that work is underway at the Northern Nevada Industrial Center on USA Parkway to level a 750,000-square-foot area.

Jessica Garcia / Nevada Conversion

Storey County Superintendent Austin Osborne presents a financial update on Storey County at the Northern Nevada Development Authority’s annual “State of the Counties” event on Wednesday.

Storey County TRIC continues to give

Storey County’s estimated budget of $25 million, which County Superintendent Austin Osborne says surprises many who believe the figure is higher due to the region’s continued economic development, is largely focused on its sustained success to date with the Regional Industrial downtown Tahoe. The agreement is with developer Roger Norman, who laid the infrastructure and is on a 50-year agreement with the county. In 2022, Storey paid Norman $3.8 million of its expenses in TRIC payback, and this payback will be repeated for now.

Osborne said Storey continues to lead the state in tax credits, with $1 billion more than Clark and about $1.2 billion more than Washoe.

But he resolved issues with Senate Bill 1, a tax credit bill signed by former Gov. Brian Sandoval in 2014 that gave Tesla about $1.25 billion in tax credits for its $3.5 billion investment over 10 years. The law was passed by the Senate 21-0.

Osborne said via SB1 that Tesla is paying Storey to cover $6.5 million in total expenses between 2021 and 2024 and $2.7 million for roads over the same period, and he warned counties to be ready if they consider similar arrangements.

In Storey’s transition from “wastewater to abundance”, Osborne drew attention to the importance of regional cooperation in turning his wastewater into a regional economic generator.

Manufacturing jobs also grew 55% in Story thanks to the Gigafactory, and median wages are higher than the state as a whole, and construction, information technology, and science technology are higher than Nevada.

Osborne said Storey’s 2023 capital plan will cost about $9 million, part of a total of $600 million over 10 years, to help address critical projects that include water transmission and distribution needs, sewer lines Gold Hill, construction of two more fire stations. TRIC, build or plan sheriff and court facilities, replace a 1964 swimming pool, help with road repairs, and provide a senior center or community center.

Jessica Garcia / Nevada Conversion

Mineral County Commissioner Cassie Hall presents an update on Mineral County at the Northern Nevada Development Authority’s annual “State of the Counties” event on Wednesday.

Mineral County Progress

Although the county has not yet hired a county manager and was unable to provide specific data for this year’s presentation, Mineral County Commissioner Cassie Hall said the region has made progress in consolidating and achieving its goals by merging its occupancy and tourism tax departments into recreational management. and the community development department because it lacks human resources, she said.

However, the director has been able to advance recreational needs such as preserving the local golf course, negotiating water rights and reviving beloved local activities such as pickleball and disc golf, as well as continuing important community development concepts that are essential to the Mineral experience. and start conversations between residents.

Hall said another success was hiring a grants administrator to help identify and secure the US Recovery Plan Act, the Local and Tribal Relief Fund, and community development block grant opportunities.

Hall said the planning committee is working with the Northern Nevada Development Authority and Converse Consultants on the master plan and rezoning and hopes to follow the TRIC model in its development. While she said it’s unlikely to reach TRIC size, “I think we have a great role model,” Hall said.

Last year, COVID-19 made the county aware of testing and vaccination challenges, and Mineral is looking to improve its public health preparedness. Hall said the county has partnered with Churchill County and created the Central Nevada Health District to assist with disease investigation, medical care, environmental protection and disease prevention.

Hall said there are other mental health and social service projects she hopes to announce in the future.

She also mentioned an update on the expansion of the Luning solar plant, the potential for ARPA pay increases, and the progress made by the county building department in improving property and addressing the local housing crisis.

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