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Give the people a chance today
April 30, 2008
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Who knows if it will work? Who knows if it is the best choice? Who knows if it will flounder? In truth, no one knows if altering the municipal makeup of the Incline Village General Improvement District into the Town of Incline Village is a good idea.
But one thing is for sure: If the IVGID Board of Trustees approves the Independent Incline agenda item at today’s meeting, the ad-hoc group of locals striving for it fruition will reach new ground, a ground that hasn’t been scaled in the almost-30-year existence of the phrase “Independent Incline.”
Time and time again, Independent Incline has been revived, only to be shot down.
But after today’s meeting, those disappointments could be an afterthought.
By voting “yay,” the IVGID Board will set in motion a series of events that could lead to an advisory question being added to November’s ballot, asking IVGID voters to vote their choosing on whether IVGID should become the Town of Incline Village.
If you talk to most experts, they might tell you the latest version of Independent Incline is a no-brainer.
They’ll might tell you it’s a great idea, because if the switch is made, home rule will increase for Incline Village and Crystal Bay. They’ll probably tell you it’s a great idea because there are absolutely zero expected tax increases if IVGID dissolves and Incline Village becomes an unincorporated city. They might even tell you it’s a good idea tell you no jobs will be eliminated if the switch is made.
They probably will even acknowledge the one potential negative, in that the new Town of Incline Village could have a smaller borrowing capacity (in terms of general obligation bonds) than it currently does as a GID.
There could be some naysayers out there, the people who may laud the idea of Independent Incline, but loathe the aim.
They might say Incline’s quest to be totally independent might not be realizes until Incline becomes its own county. They might say that some improvements are nice in terms of an unincorporated city, but still, it has Washoe County breathing down its neck.
And still others most likely hate the idea altogether.
But the main point we’re making here is that, like anything democratic, this has the chance to be voted on by the people. Whether some agree or not, in most cases, the people’s voice is the majority.
Whether or not it works, only time will tell. There still are many hurdles if today’s item is approved, as far as finalizing deals with Washoe County, creating ballot language and earning an approval to put that ballot on the Election Day slate, which only can come from the Washoe County Board of Commissioners.
But if today’s IVGID Board votes “yay,” and later on down the line so to do the Washoe County Board of Commissioners, then the people will get let their voice be heard.
We feel that the majority should have the opportunity to be heard — they shouldn’t be shunned again, like in years past, having to wait a few more years to see if the next group of locals can come up with a new idea.
So vote “yay” today, IVGID Board of Trustees. Set this issue into an unprecedented motion, with the optimal ending being a vote on Election Day.
Give the people a chance.
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P/SUNNY 56°
