Storm drainage most important issue coming up

Speaking with the authority of an incumbent, Mayor Ray Masayko began throwing around numbers Friday for the cost of a "Cadillac" storm drainage system.

Masayko, 55, figures it will be one of the most important decisions the community will make in the coming year. And by his figures, a system that will handle a highly destructive 100-year storm would cost the city $30 million.

He estimates that will create a 36-cent increase to property taxes if added to the property tax rolls. He figures that would mean every taxpayer paying an extra $150 a year in construction costs and $60 a month in maintenance costs for the storm drainage system.

"That's a fairly costly endeavor," he said. "Regardless of how we decide to pay for it, the money has to come out of the taxpayers of Carson City. How much is reasonable? How much can we afford to install? What kind of protection do we want to incur if we're going to protect ourselves from a 25-year flood or a 100-year flood."

Masayko doesn't want to see the system funded entirely by property taxes. The city has kicked around the idea of creating a storm water utility, which would be billed similar to water and sewer bills.

"Suppose you make it a utility?" Masayko asked. "Is the equivalent of putting it on the tax roles any less? No. Whether you're paying it as property taxes or as a utility, aren't you paying the same amount? Either way, it's an expensive proposition."

Masayko would prefer to see a voter-approved, quarter-cent sales tax increase, similar to the increase that funds parks, open space and road maintenance, to help pay for storm drainage. It may not cover the costs of the whole storm drainage project, but it could offset any property tax increase.

While not as familiar with the numbers swirling around storm drainage expenses, mayoral hopeful Tom Tatro, 43, said "sales tax is an iffy way of financing capital improvements."

"It takes the burden off property tax owner but puts it into an area that is volatile," Tatro said. "It is an unstable source and it increases our dependence on sales tax. The other opportunity is to do property taxes, but without knowing the costs of the system, I don't know which is the best route."

One thing Tatro does remember is the 1997 flood that prompted storm drainage awareness.

"One of the most lasting impressions I have from being a member of the board was when they took us up in a helicopter to show us the results of the flood," he said. " What was striking was we were so vulnerable. You either have long-term preparation or you have disaster.

Tatro agreed that storm drainage planning should be on the forefront of city concerns.

"Everyone would probably like to tuck it under the rug and hope that under their watch, nothing happens. That's not a responsible approach," Tatro said. "We have to have traffic. We have to have water and sewer. Flood drainage is equally significant, but on a day-to-day basis, it's hard to think about its impacts. It may be boring, but it's not boring if it snows or rains. It's not an if, it's a when we'll have another flood. We either respond now, or deal with it."

Masayko said Carson residents may not clearly remember the impacts of the 1997 flood.

"People are not as frightened about it reoccurring because it's further back in their memories," Masayko said. "After the flood, people were concerned."

Tatro also said creating an extra quarter-cent sales tax could put Carson City at a competitive disadvantage with neighboring counties, a charge with which Masayko disagrees.

"The city is limited to 7.5 percent sales tax, right now we're at 7," Masayko said. "This is the last quarter-cent with the flexibility of maintenance costs. We don't want sales taxes to get too high. But Douglas has a quarter cent on the ballot and Reno is almost topped out. If Carson went to 7.25, we would be competitive."

Both candidates agree residents must decide what kind of a system the city needs to fund and build.

"What's nice to have and what's the priority?" Tatro said.

"I think we're willing to accept some level of flooding," Masayko said. "It's important that (residents) make that decision. We need to move smartly to get those information streams in front of people."