Reno, Nevada. October 29, 2009. At their regularly scheduled meeting yesterday, Washoe County Commissioners directed planning staff to make specific revisions to a proposed nuisance ordinance and return on December 8th for a first reading of said ordinance with a second reading and possible adoption on January 12, 2010. Both readings would occur during the public hearing portion of the County Commission meeting, scheduled to begin no earlier than 6:00 p.m. on both days.
Reno, Nevada. October 28, 2009. Help Washoe County recapture first place and win $5,000 by taking the National Association of Counties (NACO) ENERGY STAR Change a Light pledge.
Reno, Nevada. October 27, 2009. The Washoe County Commission today at their regularly scheduled meeting approved the following on-going agreements with other local government entities to enhance our community’s quality of life, specifically in the area of public safety.
Reno, Nevada. October 27, 2009. Washoe County Commissioners met today with members of the Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) Board of Directors to outline a process for near-term integration and long-term consolidation of Washoe County Department of Water Resources’ water utility function with TMWA, the area’s largest water purveyor.
Reno, Nevada. October 27, 2009. Citizens can hear about how Washoe County’s Animal Services staff is working with local animal rescue groups to make our county one of the most “pet friendly” communities in the country.
Reno, Nevada. October 21, 2009. Washoe County has been recognized as a winner for its use of technology in the national Center for Digital Government’s 2009 Digital Counties Survey in the 250,000 to 499,000 population category.
Reno, Nevada. October 6, 2009. In a decision handed down today by District Court Judge Brent Adams, Washoe County Treasurer Bill Berrum was ordered to refund 8,700 north shore property owners located in the Washoe County portion of the Lake Tahoe basin in support of the State Board of Equalization`s decision on July 20, 2009 to roll back 2006-07 property values for those residential parcels to 2002-03 levels.
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Kathy Carter
For Immediate Release
775.328.6169
http://www.washoecounty.us
09-092
WASHOE COUNTY ORDERED TO PAY REFUNDS TO INCLINE/CRYSTAL BAY PROPETY OWNERS
Reno, Nevada. October 6, 2009. In a decision handed down today by District Court Judge Brent Adams, Washoe County Treasurer Bill Berrum was ordered to refund 8,700 north shore property owners located in the Washoe County portion of the Lake Tahoe basin in support of the State Board of Equalization`s decision on July 20, 2009 to roll back 2006-07 property values for those residential parcels to 2002-03 levels. The refunds were estimated to be approximately $13 million plus interest by Finance Director John Sherman earlier this year. Approximately $5 million would be paid from Washoe County government itself; the remainder to be paid from other entities that received property tax revenues from these Incline Village/Crystal Bay (IV/CB) property owners.
"In compliance with the judge`s decision, this office is immediately gearing up to begin processing the refunds," Treasurer Bill Berrum stated. "Due to the volume and the complexity, though, this task can possibly take months to complete."
Today`s decision follows a July 20, 2009 decision by the State Board of Equalization stating that the nearly 9,000 IV/CB property owners are entitled to have their 2006-07 property values rolled back to 2002-03 property value levels, but both decisions stopped short of applying the same equalization principle to property values outside of the Incline Village/Crystal Bay area. Washoe County Assistant Deputy District Attorney David Creekman stated at the time that through the many years of addressing the numerous lawsuits filed by the League, the county has, "…always stressed the need to use the adopted administrative process that ensures fairness and equality for all taxpayers."
A written decision was to follow the State Board of Equalization`s July 20, 2009 verbal decision within 60 days, but that document has yet to be released. Washoe County must file an appeal within 30 days of that written decision being recorded if it decides to appeal the Board`s decision.
At the heart of all the legal measures that have been heard since 2002 over this issue is the fact that the courts have ruled the Washoe County Assessor did not have the authority to impose the valuation methods used during years in question as it was not expressly given by the State Tax Commission. The Court decisions have stated that the State Tax Commission was "derelict" in this area. However, the State Board of Equalization in May 2009 upheld the Washoe County Assessor`s 2008-09 property valuations in the Incline Village/Crystal Bay areas making it the third ruling since March 19, 2009 in favor of Washoe County`s assessment practices.
As of this afternoon, Washoe County`s District Attorney`s office is reviewing options, including possible action before the Nevada Supreme Court given the conflicting decisions that have been handed down over the past 12 months involving the 9,000 Lake Tahoe property owners, as well as the fact that the State Board of Equalization`s written decision has yet to be filed.
Reno, Nevada. October 1, 2009. Washoe County encourages all residents to take advantage of free dumping of selected items during this weekend`s event sponsored by the area`s privately-operated Waste Management company.
