Election season politics and the power of Facebook may have well played a hand in the defeat of a proposed tax increase for White Pine county businesses and residents.
In a surprise 3-2 vote Wednesday night the White Pine County Commission killed a proposed electricity tax that had been expected to sail through the commission a week before.
In the weeks leading up to the vote on the tax just one county commissioner, Mike Coster, was opposed to the new tax while the other four Laurie Carson, Mike Lemich, John Lampros and Richard Howe all voiced albeit reluctant support for the measure.
At Wednesday’s meeting both Lampros and Lemich who are also seeking re-election this year reversed themselves and voted against the new tax.
“I know social media played a huge role in it,” Coster said in an interview Thursday.
The issue lit up the local pages such as White Pine county & Ely Politics and White Pine Politics unleashed and Coster was one of the most prolific poster.
“This Wednesday the White Pine County Commission will finalize the 2014-2015 budget submission to the State. It will also conduct the final discussion, a PUBLIC HEARING, on the electric utility fee/tax of 1% for non-Ely customers (or 1 1/2%, depending on how you count it – since 1/2% is already there for both City and County customers). By my count, 11 out of the 12 public comments so far are AGAINST. Nonetheless, the Commission appears to be supporting it 4-1. It looks like I will be the sole vote against it,” he wrote in one of many posts
“With the public so strongly against it, and the alternatives to cutting the county budget not fully explored, I think your representatives are letting you down. It is our job to REPRESENT the citizens, even where that requires hard decisions. Where possible, that means to follow citizen direction. It is possible to avoid this fee. A dozen suggested cuts — not easy ones to make – we submitted to the Finance office, but none were presented to the Commission for consideration.
So, the county is about to take the easy way out: Add a new fee to YOUR budget to balance its OWN budget. Just a buck or so from your pocket this month, next month, and every month. Hey, how much can that hurt, huh? And maybe $1,000 from one rancher and a little more from some others. And the Robinson Mine?? So what if they have laid off more than 30 employees this year, have lost $20.3 million in the first quarter of 2014, and say they will have to borrow money to pay the tax.
FACT: White Pine County is already a HIGH TAX county in Nevada. We have the highest automobile fuel tax allowed, the highest real property tax allowed, tied for second behind Las Vegas for the highest sales tax rate, highest vehicle sales tax, etc. Worse, the County has added employees in 2014 while the population is stable and going to head downward (according to the State Demographer).
So, what is wrong with this picture? Your representatives would rather replace a 2 year old phone system, pay $12,000 a month for computer services, and give (not loan) money to build golf sheds. So, here we are, going into the next budget year, with $183,000 in new taxes and $708,900 coming from our fund balance (savings account). That is close to 10% of our budget and shows bad control of spending.
I was reminded this morning that White Pine County was the FIRST and ONLY County to be put under the Financial Emergency laws of Nevada. We only recovered from that a few years ago. We DONT want to be the second. Yet, there is a chance we could be if we continue to spend down our reserves and not control spending.
When is enough enough?”
A week ago White Pine County Commissioner John Lampros lambasted the use of the Internet and social media at a candidate’s night held in Ely.
While not running in the primary Lampros used the night to strongly criticize what he called the misinformation being published on various social media sites such as Facebook.
By far the most popular and influential Internet page is White Pine & Ely Politics Facebook. Begun by Ely resident Audrey Clark a year ago the page has over 600 members.
“I started the group back in March 2013 as a way for me to learn about politics. I really knew nothing and thought it would be a great (fun) way for me to learn, Little did I know the ruckus it would cause! I am truly amazed how the group grew and transformed. A lot of people joined and seemed to enjoy having a place to discuss issues and try to find answers to things,” said Clark.
The page was credited with playing a crucial role in the Ely city elections last June and now it seems the page is helping to set county policy.
Good reporting.
This is the first time I have read about the site. I’m very happy that people are becoming involved in the politics of our county. I am running for County Commission in the general election and believe we can make changes for the better if we can get everyone involved. Thank you.