OK, so you think spending money on LUPA is a waste of taxpayer money, not going to argue that point today. However, in the same editorial you raised the point as to why so many ranchers/farmers are on rural county commissions. The suggestion that these agriculture commissioners might “owe something” is outrageous beyond belief. Maybe you ought to look at some facts before making wild charges. Nevada ag statistics are published by the USDA here in Nevada in cooperation with UNR. The latest economic statistics unfortunately are for 2007, some eight years old, but they will make the point. The estimated market value of farm land, buildings and equipment in Humboldt was 1.9 billion dollars. Wonder what the property tax from that brings the County? The market value of all ag products produced in Humboldt in 2007 was in excess of 74 million dollars. Any economist will tell you that the indirect impact of ag production within the community is equally as great as the dollar value of actual production. Thus in one way or another agriculture ran about 150 million through Humboldt in 2007. Today, 2015, some 8 years later, these figures would be at least 150% greater. It would be hard to estimate the current market value of the land, buildings and equipment, but that has also escalated considerably , ask any realtor. Remember, the City Council runs the city, the Commission runs the county. They work together where problems overlap. Ranchers and farmers understand rural needs, they are conservative in nature, they don’t spend money unnecessarily, despite what you might think. As far as I am concerned. I wouldn’t mind it one bit if we had three or four ag producers on the Commission.
Tony Lesperance
Paradise Valley
