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General improvement districts could lose authority if a bill to consolidate government agencies is approved by the Nevada Legislature.
AB 332 would put all GIDs under one county-run water authority, the Washoe County Water District, which would handle the storage, conservation, distribution and sale of water. The bill was co-authored by former Assemblyman Jason Geddes and presented by Assemblywoman Christina Giunchigliani (D-Clark County).
"It's not meant to change the way GIDs conduct their business or to dissolve them, it would just be a way of ensuring all districts in the county were adhering to the same level of service and quality," Geddes said.
But AB 332 has some Incline officials worried.
"I don't like it," said Incline Village General Improvement District General Manager Bill Horn. "Jason Geddes said we shouldn't jump to conclusions, but this bill, if passed, could have an extreme effect on the district."
Horn said he is concerned with improvement district representation on the proposed county district.
"The part that would put representatives from each GID on the county board is crossed out on the document," Horn said. "Which means all decisions would be made by the county."
Geddes said he's not surprised Horn took notice of the bill and is planning a meeting to discuss the matter.
IVGID Director of Public Works Dan St. John said the bill is not practical.
"Our feeling is it doesn't make sense for water districts in different locals and with their own individual infrastructures to fall under one entity," St. John said. "IVGID is pretty well self sufficient. Another thing this bill fails to address is what becomes of the districts should this go into effect."
St. John said he doubts the bill was intended to include IVGID but if it was, "I think it'd be looked at as just another layer of bureaucracy that would have to be dealt with."
Washoe County Public Information Officer Mike Wolterbeek said the county isn't pleased with the bill either.
"Our position is to wait and see," Wolterbeek said. "There are several elements that are going to be changed in this bill and I think we'll know better in a couple of days. I can say the county doesn't like the bill it the way it is."
Wolterbeek added that the county didn't initiate the bill.
"This was authored without out input or urging from the county," Wolterbeek said.
Geddes agreed the bill has a lot of flaws and said he feels the GIDs may be jumping to conclusions.
"I know this bill has a lot of problems and issues connected with it," Geddes said. "To be honest, I don't hold out much hope it'll pass."
AB 332 would put all GIDs under one county-run water authority, the Washoe County Water District, which would handle the storage, conservation, distribution and sale of water. The bill was co-authored by former Assemblyman Jason Geddes and presented by Assemblywoman Christina Giunchigliani (D-Clark County).
"It's not meant to change the way GIDs conduct their business or to dissolve them, it would just be a way of ensuring all districts in the county were adhering to the same level of service and quality," Geddes said.
But AB 332 has some Incline officials worried.
"I don't like it," said Incline Village General Improvement District General Manager Bill Horn. "Jason Geddes said we shouldn't jump to conclusions, but this bill, if passed, could have an extreme effect on the district."
Horn said he is concerned with improvement district representation on the proposed county district.
"The part that would put representatives from each GID on the county board is crossed out on the document," Horn said. "Which means all decisions would be made by the county."
Geddes said he's not surprised Horn took notice of the bill and is planning a meeting to discuss the matter.
IVGID Director of Public Works Dan St. John said the bill is not practical.
"Our feeling is it doesn't make sense for water districts in different locals and with their own individual infrastructures to fall under one entity," St. John said. "IVGID is pretty well self sufficient. Another thing this bill fails to address is what becomes of the districts should this go into effect."
St. John said he doubts the bill was intended to include IVGID but if it was, "I think it'd be looked at as just another layer of bureaucracy that would have to be dealt with."
Washoe County Public Information Officer Mike Wolterbeek said the county isn't pleased with the bill either.
"Our position is to wait and see," Wolterbeek said. "There are several elements that are going to be changed in this bill and I think we'll know better in a couple of days. I can say the county doesn't like the bill it the way it is."
Wolterbeek added that the county didn't initiate the bill.
"This was authored without out input or urging from the county," Wolterbeek said.
Geddes agreed the bill has a lot of flaws and said he feels the GIDs may be jumping to conclusions.
"I know this bill has a lot of problems and issues connected with it," Geddes said. "To be honest, I don't hold out much hope it'll pass."
