Disaster fund has to last, panel warns

Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997 | 8:37 a.m.

The panel also agreed Wednesday that requests from Boulder City and Henderson, hit by flash flooding in August, along with requests from Lyon and Douglas counties, hit by flooding last January, must be reviewed by the state Division of Emergency Management.

The lawmakers said a final decision on the requests will be made by the Legislature's Interim Finance Committee when it meets Jan. 14.

Boulder City is seeking $1.6 million from the fund, while Henderson applied for $510,000. Douglas County is seeking $572,000, while Lyon County applied for $1 million.

The Board of Examiners, composed of Gov. Bob Miller, Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa and Secretary of State Dean Heller, recommended $470,000 for Douglas County, the full request for Lyon County and no money for the two southern Nevada cities.

The decision was based on the fiscal health of the local governments and their ability to pay for damages sustained in the natural disasters.

The Interim Finance Committee debated the issue in November but couldn't come to a decision. The committee voted to provide $180,000 to Douglas and Lyon counties to allow for the start of some flood repair work.

Members of the subcommittee appointed to review the disaster relief fund said it has to last through June 1999. They added the fund was designed to help those less able to pay, a concept that will be used to help guide the final decision.

Other requests for assistance from the January flooding in northern Nevada may come from Carson City and Washoe, Storey and Churchill counties. Nye County may seek assistance for damage from summer flash flooding around Pahrump.