Storey's property tax rate on the decrease

Storey County residents will pay a little less in property tax this year because the cost of juvenile detention services dropped by about $50,000.

Marilou Walling, county administrative officer, said Storey is the only county that will pay less for youth services provided by the China Spring, Aurora Pines juvenile detention centers and Western Nevada Regional Youth Center. In fiscal year 2005/2006, Storey county will only have to provide $33,000 to the centers.

The property tax rate will drop to 3.48 percent, which is .05 percent less than the previous fiscal year, said Pat Whitten, director of administration and budget. Whitten said this is the anticipated rate, if the school district taxes and the state taxes remain the same. He characterized this budget as fiscally conservative.

That means for a Storey County resident the total tax rate is projected to be $3.48 per $100 of assessed value. For example, a resident with a $200,000 home will pay $2,436 in property tax in the next fiscal year.

This property tax is anticipated to generate $4.5 million. The county's general fund is $6.5 million, which will cover everything but water and sewer, Walling said.

The roads department will receive about $717,000, which will cover paving projects.

The Storey County Fire Department received a slight increase in its budget of about $400,000 for the addition of several new paramedics. That brings the fire department's budget to $1.9 million.

"They now have paramedics for the first time," Walling said. "Three just graduated and three more are going to school this month."

The fire department also received about $243,000 for forestry. Also budgeted is about $278,000 for the payments on four fire trucks.

The $257,000 sheriff department jail fund includes the cost of one deputy's salary and the cost of running the 18-bed Story County Jail.

Storey County will have another first this next fiscal year: its own Web site.

"We've got the money to do Web site development, so we'll finally have that up and running shortly," Walling said. "Clerk costs and a lot of documents will be online."

About $93,000 will be spent on capital projects, such as adding an administrative office beside the fire department.

The county also plans to spend $224,000 to put in two new water tanks. This is partly funded by the one quarter of 1 percent sales tax. The state allows a maximum rate of $3.64 per $100 of assessed value.

n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.