Lyon County seeks tax hike to prevent another

In order to prevent a tax increase, Lyon County Commissioners will have to request one.

That's the view of county Comptroller Josh Foli, who was taken by surprise when the South Lyon County Hospital District board voted to request a tax rate increase of 4.73 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

The district had submitted a tentative balanced budget with no tax increases to the county, Foli said, and he followed suit when he proposed the county's budget to the commission.

But earlier this month, the hospital district voted to request an increase of 4.73 cents per $100 of assessed value, which would bring the district about $700 to $800 in additional annual revenue. Only the properties within the hospital district would be affected by the increase in taxes.

However, the City of Yerington quickly followed suit, saying it intends to request a hike of 3 cents per $100 of assessed value. The city had also already submitted a tentative budget that contained no tax increase.

Foli said the only way for the county to be part of the tax increase discussion is to request its own increase, which will be the subject of a public hearing at the commissioner's regular meeting Thursday. He explained that the hospital district and the City of Yerington requests would put the taxing district over the state cap of $3.64 per $100 of assessed valuation and a meeting must be held to negotiate any increases. If a consensus cannot be reached, the Nevada Tax Commission would decide at its June meeting which entities can increase taxes and by how much.

"The county will only be involved in the discussion if they vote to raise their tax," Foli said. "I'm going to recommend we ask for a tax increase only so the county has a chair at the table and hopefully they'll reach a consensus of no tax increase."

Foli said the same situation occurred last year and it resulted in each entity deciding to go back to the original tax rates.

Lyon County Taxing District No 1, which includes the hospital district, the county and the City of Yerington, is subject to the state's tax cap and the hospital district's request would leave only 1.74 cents of room in the rate to be split by all the other entities are: the Lyon County School District, the Mason Valley Mosquito Abatement District and the Mason Valley Swimming Pool District.

Currently the rate is $3.58 before any tax increase, Foli said.

When contacted, South Lyon County Hospital District board member Deborah Giomi refused to comment. Other board members could not be reached.

If you go

WHAT: Lyon County Commission meeting

WHEN: 9 a.m. Thursday

WHERE: 27 S. Main St., Yerington

CALL: (775) 463-6531

• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@ nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.