Tahoe residents push for their own county

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

The Tahoe Citizens Committee on Monday decided to pursue the creation of what would become Nevada's 18th county, with boundaries stretching from Incline Village to the casino core of Stateline.

Such a move would require approval by the Nevada Legislature and would take away sections of Douglas and Washoe counties and rural Carson City.

"We think the time is right," said Mike Jabara of the Tahoe Citizens Committee. The group began studying the possibility of divorcing Tahoe from Douglas County nearly a year ago.

Lake Tahoe-area residents have increasingly complained that they are not getting adequate services for the amount of taxes they pay and feel their tax dollars are being used to subsidize growth in other areas of the counties.

"We're very, very enthusiastic about this," said Ted Harris, of the Incline-Crystal Bay Committee for Self-Government. "We see this as a way to possibly, finally, break away from Washoe County. We are determined to get out of the burden of subsidizing the valley."

The group endorsed a goal to raise $400,000 by the end of December to finance the effort.

The Lake Tahoe Gaming Alliance dedicated $200,000 for the cause, and pledged another $100,000 if the affected communities also raise $100,000.

Jabara and other organizers concede the effort will become a political battle in the halls of the Legislature. But they are hoping for support from Southern Nevada lawmakers to make it happen.

"Let us make no mistake about this -- this is going to be decided by politicians from Las Vegas," he said.

The secession effort comes after a study commissioned by the group said a new county would be financially feasible.

The study was conducted by Lionel Sawyer & Collins, the state's largest law firm. The group also has hired the firm to lobby on its behalf in the upcoming legislative session.