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County eyes tax for museums

Susie Vasquez

MINDEN – A tax levy for the maintenance of Douglas County museums, art centers or historical societies could be on the 2006 ballot, under a measure to be considered by commissioners at today’s meeting.

The tax could not exceed 5 cents per $100 assessed valuation on property in Douglas County, the proceeds to be paid under contract for salaries and activities for these nonprofit organizations, according to Nevada law.

These organizations can’t make capital improvements without the express approval of the board of county commissioners, Nevada law states.



“We know we have a lot of work to do to get people to understand the need,” said Hap Fisher, planning committee chairman for the Douglas County Historical Society. “But if we lose our heritage, we can never get it back. Once it’s gone, it’s totally gone.”

In addition to operating both the Carson Valley and Genoa museums, the organization is working to preserve the Dangberg Home Ranch.



The society is asking for one cent, or about $3 a year for each Douglas County resident, Fisher said.

The historical society conducts fund-raisers to stay afloat financially, but hasn’t been able to hire a director due to money shortages, Fisher said.

“Douglas is the richest county in the state,” Fisher said. “But other Nevada counties do more than Douglas to support their museums.

“For example, we only get a small portion of what one small museum in Nye County receives,” he said.

The commission meets at 1:30 p.m. today at the county building at 175 Highway 50 East in Stateline.


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