For those that live within certain boundaries in Winnemucca, certain rural areas and Golconda, animal control services are readily available. Those that live outside of the boundaries however, are unable to use the services despite paying certain taxes that go towards the cost of the services.
At their regular meeting on July 10, the Humboldt County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a motion to proceed with the necessary procedures to evaluate the creation of a dog control district assessment, potentially shifting the taxes associated with animal control to only those parcels that can utilize the services.
“The ones benefiting from these services should be the ones footing the bill,” said Commissioner Mark Evatz.
It will take a significant amount of time in order to conduct the public hearings and proper considerations in order to move forward with the assessment that would eventually be submitted to the Nevada Department of Taxation and applied through the Humboldt County Assessor’s Office, according to officials, but the motion allows for further consideration and discussion by the Board and for the public to weigh in.
The assessment would not be put into place prior to July of 2024 if officially approved, according to officials.
According to Humboldt County Comptroller Gina Rackley, there are 5,422 parcels that fall into the possible assessment district and based on the total annual costs of animal control expenses ($150,500), the annual cost to each parcel would be $27.76. Rackley suggested rounding up the amount to an even $30.
“If you get taxed, you should be receiving a service [that the tax goes towards]. If you’re not receiving service because of some kind of border issue or lining issue, then you shouldn’t be paying,” said Evatz.
Although the parcels that fall outside the boundaries of animal control services would no longer be paying taxes towards the services, there would not be a reduction in their taxes because the monies go into the General Fund and would be directed towards other costs, according to Rackley.
Commissioner Evatz expressed that he was disappointed that taxes would not go down for those outside of the district, which was the original intent of the consideration, but did understand that the complexities of the General Fund allowed for the money to be used elsewhere, absorbed by inflation costs or reallocated by the Sheriff’s Office for other expenses.
Commissioner Ron Cerri said that “If the program continues to grow I don’t have to pay for the services, so I’m more than happy to let my taxes pay for another program,” when discussing the reasons that taxes would not go down for those outside out the animal control district.
Previously, a request from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office to create a part-time position in the animal control department was approved in a split vote with Commissioner Cerri in opposition.
Cerri stated that he did not approve of the request because those that do not get to utilize the animal control services, including himself, pay taxes towards the services despite living outside of the service areas.
Commissioner Evatz directed officials to put together information that would be helpful in addressing the matter and possibly shifting the tax onto only those parcels within the service area at that time.
The expenses for animal control services include employee salaries and benefits, vehicle fuel and maintenance, capital expenses that are accumulated for the purchase of replacement vehicles, and a cost-share agreement with theCity of Winnemucca.
Comptroller Rackley, Humboldt County Assessor Andy Heiser and Commissioner Evatz met to discuss the creation of an assessment district in efforts to address the consideration and come up with the logistics and Heiser was able to create the boundaries for the assessment.
The Commissioners did question the potential for other issues to arise that would affect other taxes that all county residents pay for but some are unable to utilize, but Evatz explained that the clear boundaries of the possible assessment district help alleviate some of the potential obstacles.
“There were already some clear lines drawn around the services provided, where they’re provided, and what they cost, so it’s a legitimate concern for opening up a can of worms but this one seemed to be open and shut very easily,” said Evatz.