The people of northeastern Clark County are, in general, remarkably generous and giving folks. When a neighbor is sick or fallen on hard times, they rally around to help. When valued community groups and institutions need support, people open their pockets to keep them alive and in service. During the holidays, there is always an outpouring of gifts, toys, food and cash to help ensure the comfort and joy of needy residents. Most of all, there is overwhelming support for the youth. The schools, sports, arts, music FFA, 4H — anything wholesome that develops youth — is willingly and eagerly supported by individuals, businesses and institutions alike. This generosity is what makes the region a wonderful place to live.
So why is that that we have such an epic struggle on our hands every year among members of the local utility district boards over the question of supporting just such community needs? It is puzzling how the boards at both Moapa Valley Water (MVWD) and Overton Power (OPD) can spend the entire year in unanimous agreement on the expenditure of millions of dollars in their budgets. But every January, they agonize and argue over the propriety of throwing back a few pennies towards programs that develop local youth.
And it truly does amount to mere pennies! In the last fiscal year, OPD spent less than 1/10 of one percent of its budget on a few scholarships for students in the two valley high schools. That means an average ratepayer paid less than a quarter per month; that’s right, 25 cents; to help local high school kids pay for college. On the other hand, MVWD spent a total of $600 in donations last year to the half dozen groups that bothered to come and ask for it. This amounts to only about .02 percent of its budget. That means an average customer spent less than two pennies per water bill on these donations.
Certain board members keep insisting that there are numerous ratepayers who feel outrage that such expenditures are made by the districts. Who are these people and where are they? They certainly don’t show up to the board meetings to complain. Are there really so many who would object to directing less than three dimes each month to supporting community youth programs? And why would they make such a fuss? After all, their monthly bill wouldn’t decrease by the 27 cents if those programs went away. Of that, they can rest assured!
Still it is argued that these programs use ratepayer dollars and those dollars should be held sacrosanct from such unfocused spending. They claim that ratepayer dollars should somehow be used for nothing other than the primary aims of delivering water or power to customers. Nothing else.
“Our mission is not to develop the community, it is to deliver power!” said one OPD board member last week just before a decision was made to cut one of these programs significantly.
What an unfortunate statement. What a narrow-minded view of the role of these important community institutions.
These districts are not just islands unto themselves with the luxury of fulfilling one purpose only. A municipal economy, even a small rural one, is much more complex than that. Like any other small town institution, these districts are inextricably tied into the community in a million different ways, serving a myriad of roles. That’s the beauty of a small town: when a need arises, we all come out of our own little self-interested compartments and find a way to help.
On the contrary, these districts ARE in the business of developing the community. It is the very reason they were founded, and the reason they have functioned so well ever since. Yes their boards need to keep primary focus on providing their vital services. Yes, they need to watch over how the ratepayers dollars are spent. But there has always been a lot more to it than just servicing a meter for a monthly fee. Hopefully there always will be.
Our utility districts are governed by elected board members for a reason. These honorable people are charged with representing the neighborhoods, businesses, institutions and unique interests of our communities. As such these districts ought to strive to be fashioned in the image of the communities they serve. And we must continue to insist that the folks of northeastern Clark County would not quibble, even for a second, over 27 cents a month invested in local youth.
