TRPA continues study to raise money

Thursday, Aug. 27, 1998 | 1:33 a.m.

Some members of the agency's governing board made it clear Wednesday they're uncomfortable with the proposed fees and taxes.

But the board authorized staffers to continue narrowing the options. Possibilities include charging drivers entering the Tahoe Basin a $2 fee, adding regional taxes on gasoline, taxing tickets to cabaret shows and charging boat-launch fees.

The TRPA board also suggested other alternatives, including what Don Miner, representative of Douglas County, Nev., described as "rifle approach" western regional gas tax.

Maria Bresnick, the California Assembly speaker's TRPA appointee, said visitors coming to Tahoe should be willing to pay sums similar to entrance fees at national parks such as Yosemite and Yellowstone.

But Washoe County, Nev., Commissioner Jim Galloway said he wouldn't support any fee borne mostly by daytime visitors to the lake.

Many of the ideas would require legislative and even congressional action. And TRPA officials acknowledged they must sell whatever ideas are selected to residents and tourists.

Officials hope at least $200 million can be raised from Tahoe's "users" during the next decade. The money would go toward $908 million worth of environmental projects deemed necessary to keep the lake from turning green.

"The next step is to take this out into the community and talk about how do we narrow it down to two or three solution packages," said Jim Baetge, executive director of TRPA.

"I don't think this lake can afford to delay," he added. "We've delayed for 15 years.. We're going to lose the game before we get the discussion started."