WINNEMUCCA —  The Humboldt County Commission will not prepare a fiscal impact statement in connection to the proposed Jungo Rd. landfill because there are too many variables and too many unknowns they said on Monday (March 1). 

Nevada Revised Statutes require a fiscal impact determination for initiative and referendum ballot questions.  A committee is currently circulating petitions to have the issue of the proposed Jungo Rd. landfill put on the ballot in November -- if the county commission takes no action before that.  The initiative, if successful, would limit the amount of garbage at secondary landfills and the referendum would repeal the ordinance allowing out-of-district garbage.

The commission voted 4-1 to adopt the statement, “The fiscal impact cannot be determined at this time because Humboldt County cannot reasonably estimate the amount of revenue or the amount of loss that may be generated by Humboldt County with a reasonable degree of certainty.”  Commissioner Garley Amos was the lone holdout.  He commented, "I think it's pretty well researched and I think there is an economical and fiscal impact."

County staff, which included legal and fiscal officers, determined there were too many unknowns to prepare  such a statement.  The variables include potential host fees, an expanded tax base, job creation, possible lawsuits against the county if the landfill is blocked, possible lawsuits against the county if the project goes forward, and potential negative impact to property values – just to name a few. 

John Frankovich, representing Jungo Land & Investments, disagreed the fiscal impact could not be determined.  He reminded the commission that Recology, the company developing the landfill, presented figures on the potential for economic development three years ago – before there was any controversy on the topic. That information included job creation, construction, expanded tax base, and host fees, all of which is available for the commission in creating a fiscal impact statement. 

“The purpose of the statute is to make sure that voters are informed of the fiscal impacts of any initiative or referendum at the time they sign the petition and the time they vote,” Frankovich said. "You want an informed electorate.”  The purpose of the referendum and initiative is to stop the landfill, he added, and that could have a fiscal impact on the county. 

The commissioners agreed there would be an impact but felt they did not have enough information, either on the positive or negative side, to determine a bottom line.  

Local resident John Siegfried spoke in favor of drafting a fiscal impact statement for the benefit of the voters.  Developing the information and releasing it to the public represents transparency in government and allows the citizens to be fully informed on the issue before signing petitions and before voting, he argued.   He added, “Unless we fully disclose the opportunities we're going to do a real disservice to the county.”

He pointed out information was available to the commission --  including a report from the Commission on Economic Development that outlined the positive fiscal impacts from development of the landfill. There could also be negative impacts if the project were stopped because the company developing the landfill has already spent in excess of $900,000 to date on the project. Siegfried commented, “If this is stopped at this point I think you could be liable for damages and expenses.”

Representing the committee trying to get the issue on the ballot was Marlene Brissenden who told the commission the initiative committee is spending their own money,  volunteering their time, and there would be no fiscal impact from their efforts.  She acknowledged the challenge of creating a fiscal impact statement due to the lack of precedence.

Brissenden also raised some concerns about the negative fiscal impacts from having a landfill on Jungo Rd.  She thought businesses would think twice before relocating to Humboldt County, there would be a decrease in property values, and impact to health and safety from particulate matter blown into town from the landfill.

Deputy DA Angie Elquist said in researching the issue she  went to the Legislative history, which included instruction the fiscal impact statement should be “factual, concise, and viable” – but contained little else that might be useful.  Elquist commented, “There’s not an easy answer and it’s not 100 percent clear.”

Additional Information:

Ballot committee changes course

Committee attempting to get landfill issue on the ballot

Economic benefits of landfill outlined for HDA