Ballot question you should question

This is the third op-ed by Sierra County Flood Commissioner Sandy Jones that I have sponsored. Jones is a governor-appointed official who oversees flood-control projects and funds them with the 1.5 mills county property owners currently pay. Will voters approve the creation of a second county flood-control taxing district that the Sierra County Commissioners put on the ballot? 

On this November ballot the Sierra County Commission through their attorney is asking you to approve an all-volunteer tax district board appointed by the court, tasked with emergency preparedness, public outreach and construction of flood control projects. Done with the intention of de-funding the Office of The Sierra County Flood Commissioner.

If passed these volunteers will have no office, no funding source, no legal advice and more importantly will have to compete with the surrounding cities and county for funding from state and federal governments. Simply put no chance to succeed.

Sierra County government already has:

• A paid County Commission (yes, I said paid and currently authorized more than $30,000.00 per year with retirement benefits, travel and pe-diem for each commissioner)
• Paid County Manager with an assistant
• 2 County Emergency management officers
• 2 full time attorneys
• A Council of Governments office
• And all the resources needed to seek out state and federal grants.

Instead of expanding the local government why don’t we ask the county commission to just do the job we are paying for.

This year alone the Office of the Sierra County Flood Commissioner office has restored Monticello and Trujillo canyons, funded the design and construction (soon to be bid) on Mescal loop drainage project in Elephant Butte and have committed $400,000.00 towards the Cantrel Dam project that relieves flooding in Williamsburg lead by the Cities of Truth or Consequences and Williamsburg. All projects you are paying for with the current flood tax.

Vote no on the Sierra County Flood Control Authority ballot question.