As many of you may know, I have been very cautious about the plans of the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) to build a hugely expensive 300+ mile water pipeline system. The following statement summarizes my views on this important issue.
1. What will it cost? The SNWA seldom states any cost figures, but when pressed, may suggest two or three billion dollars. Some believe 300-plus miles of pipeline to be built in the 2013-2018 timeframe would cost more like $6-10 billion or more. No approval should be considered until we have reliable, detailed estimates of the costs.
2. What will be the environmental effects? Until late 2006, the federal agencies responsible for protecting the planet all had serious objections. Suddenly, just hours before a September, 2006 state hearing on environmental concerns, the four federal agencies abruptly withdrew all their objections. Before any vote on this is taken, we need to know how the predicted environmental disaster can be avoided and whether the federal agencies will again pursue their earlier concerns.
3. Can the SNWA handle such a project? Recent revelations of waste and overspending on the Springs Preserve, purchasing huge ranches for 3-5 times their actual value, and paying Washington lobbyists hundreds of thousands of dollars year after year with no competition (for information easily obtained without cost from our federal congressional delegation) raise critical questions about organizational competence. The County Commission must consider establishing a pipeline authority if we were to go forward.
Finally, we must consider that last month’s sudden demand for an immediate decision probably results from SNWA's realization that citizens know we will have very limited growth in coming years and that more effective conservation programs, especially conservation pricing of water, may eliminate the need for a pipeline altogether.
Any Board Member who supports this unneeded early commitment without hard data on cost, conservation and competence of SNWA is putting the future of our valley and the economy of our state at risk. Common sense demands that we first answer these critical questions before committing our citizens to fund what could become the largest and most expensive project ever considered in Nevada.
Helping Every Student Succeed in School
Compliments of Assemblyman Joe Hogan
2208 Plaza De La Candela
Las Vegas, NV 89102
702-365-0505
Nothing is more important to a student’s success in school than the involvement of his or her family.
My kids are grown now, but I remember well going to soccer games and swim meets and how important I always felt it was to be involved in their education. Now, when I visit the schools in my district, teachers frequently tell me how much they value parents who get involved and what a difference parental involvement can make in a student’s success.
I hear from parents all the time that they would like to get involved, but don’t know where to start.
Below are several links with tips on how you can get involved and help your children or grandchildren succeed in school. Here are a few that I think are particularly helpful---
· Instill in your children a love of reading. Read to your younger children and take them to the library. Keep books around the house and let them see you reading.
· Set aside a quiet place for homework without TV, music or cell phones. If possible, have a special “homework” time that is consistent every day.
· Talk to your children about school every day—what they are learning, what they feel good about, their frustrations.
· Attend Open House and other school events. Keep up with school activities on the school district website.
Resources to Help You Get Involved
Clark County School District---You can find and track your students’ grades and get information on how you can get involved in your children’s or grandchildren’s school by visiting www.ccsd.net and clicking on “Parents.”
Nevada State Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC)—PIRC’s website has a wide variety of suggestions of activities parents and grandparents can do with their students. Their website is http://www.nevadapirc.org.
Parent Teacher Association—the National PTA has tips on helping students with homework, instilling a love for reading, and working with teachers to help your students succeed. Visit www.PTA.org, click on “Topics” and then on “Student Success.”
US Department of Education—For a series of online brochures on topics ranging from helping your students with science and math to getting prepared for college, visit www.ed.gov and click on “Parents.”
New Legislation to Help You Participate in School
The 2009 Legislature enacted a new law requiring businesses with 50 or more employees to provide their employees up to four hours of unpaid leave a year to attend school activities or to volunteer in their children’s school. For more information on how this law works, please visit www.leg.state.nv.us. You can call or email me and I will send you a copy of the legislation.
School Safety—Protecting Kids on the Way to School
Making sure our kids are safe as they go to and from school is critical. The Legislature enacted a law in 2007 that gives school police the authority to issue traffic citations around schools for speeding, double-parking and parking in “No Parking” zones.
If your children walk to school, be sure you have chosen the safest route. Make sure they do not deviate from this route.
E-MAIL SENT 10/20/08 TO PATTY KELLEY, PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER LAS VEGAS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS:
Dear Ms. Kelley:
I am receiving lots of interesting suggestions from my constituents as I go door-to-door. Many are directed toward saving money to reduce the next state budget, and these are very welcome. Other ideas and information are also intriguing.
Last week a constituent told me a very sobering story about an influx of exploitive persons from out of state, intending to rip off victims of the foreclosure crisis. The scheme is to extract a $3,000 to $5,000 payment up front for easing the terms of mortgage loans. As you know, many of your helpful agents are generously helping such victims with the terms of their mortgages without charge.
It would be a wonderful GLVAR contribution to solving part of the foreclosure crisis if your association chose to recruit members willing and qualified to help guide people through these procedures. In one nearly cost-free gesture, you could demonstrate the professional responsibility of your members by providing much needed help and saving hundreds, perhaps thousands of our neighbors from the threat of foreclosure and loss of their homes.
I envision a public service (free) ad in the Review Journal telling people there is no need to pay money to fly-by-night, unlicensed “fixers” because skilled, licensed, public spirited professional realtors are ready to help them at no cost.
An immediate start on this project could be providing relief before the holidays to numerous families. I would (as a long-ago licensed realtor) be pleased to discuss this suggestion further and help in any way I can.
Joe Hogan
Assemblyman, District 10
Important Economic Information for You and Your Family
Three Programs Available For Senior Citizens
Information about the Senior Citizens Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
Provided by M. W. Schofield, Assessor
Each year, from February 1st through April 30th, the Clark County Assessor’s Office administers the Senior Citizen Tax Assistance/Rent Rebate Program. This statewide program refunds a portion of property taxes or rent paid to eligible senior citizens. This applies to any person meeting the requirements below regardless of whether they own a home, rent an apartment or house, or live in a manufactured home. Please review the requirements below to see if you may qualify, or if you may know of someone that may qualify.
To be eligible for the program:
· An applicant must be 62 years of age or older by June 30th of the year he/she applies.
· Applicants must have been a resident of Clark County for at least six months of the previous year.
· Total household income must be $27,863 or less (plus or minus an adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index) for the calendar year of 2007. This includes Social Security income.
· Applicants cannot have "liquid assets" that exceed $150,000. "Liquid assets" can be savings accounts, IRA's, C-D's, stocks & bonds, annuities, etc.
· Homeowners assessed value may not exceed $200,000 ($571,000 taxable value).
· An applicant cannot own property (other than their residence) with an assessed value in excess of $30,000 ($85,700 taxable value in Nevada).
The State Division of Aging Services requires that first time applicants provide proof of age (birth certificate, Nevada I.D. or some other legal document).
If you think you may qualify, or if you know of someone that may qualify for this program, we encourage you to contact Aging Services at 455-3882 for assistance.
Completed applications are sent to the Assessor’s Office to start the process, then the application gets forwarded to Carson City. The Division of Aging Services calculates an applicant’s rebate amount based on their taxes or rent paid and their annual household income. Renters receive a refund based on the rent they pay that is attributable to property taxes and their annual income. A homeowner’s refund is calculated based on the taxes they pay on the residence that the claimant occupies. The Division of Aging Services mails the rebate checks to qualified applicants in August and September of each year.
After filing the first application, the process gets easier. The Division of Aging Services will automatically mail out new applications each year to everyone who applied the previous year.
The Assessor’s Office visits many of the senior living complexes during the months of February, March and April to talk about the program and assist those applying with their applications.
If you are interested in having that Office come visit your group and discuss the program, please contact them at 455-4982 to schedule an appointment.
The Assessor’s Office processed over 10,000 applications last year. We believe that there are substantially more seniors that could qualify for this program and take advantage of the rebate.
Project Reach (Relief through Energy Assistance to Prevent Customer Hardships)
A program funded by Nevada Power
Project REACH (Relief through Energy Assistance to Prevent Customer Hardships) is a Nevada Power funded program designed to help vulnerable adults over the age of 62 years, medically fragile or Reserve and National Guard members who meet the income guidelines below. Please call one of the following United Way partner agencies to apply. Project REACH is administered through United Way of Southern Nevada and is available year round until funds are exhausted. Call 367-5555
Household Size Maximum Annual Gross Income
1-2 $ 29,300
3 $ 34,400
4 $ 41,500
5 $ 48,600
6 $ 55,700
Each Additional $ 7,100
2-1-1 Telephone Service
In 2005, the Nevada Legislature established a 2-1-1 telephone line that Nevadans can call for information about available services and resources.
Job Creation
Our state and our nation are currently facing one of the most dramatic economic downturns in our history. Nevada has been particularly hard hit. We will only begin to turn our economy around when Nevadans are able to find jobs with wages and benefits that allow them to support themselves and their families. That’s why I supported a jobs bill that will create 8,000 jobs by funding road construction. The funding for these jobs was recently released and 70% of the funding was distributed to Clark County. I will continue to support efforts that create new, sustainable jobs for Nevadans.
We’ve all heard how important renewable energy will be in ending our dependence on foreign oil, but renewable energy also has the potential to create hundreds of jobs here in Nevada. We have an abundance of natural resources to be tapped; our state should be the leader in renewable energy development in the nation. I have supported incentives for renewable energy projects that create Nevada jobs, and this must continue to be a priority for the future.
Now, more than ever, we know how important it is to diversify our economy and end our dependence on a single industry, tourism. During the interim, a special legislative committee studied how Nevada can become a manufacturing, distribution and transportation hub for the Western United States. We will consider the committee’s proposals during the upcoming legislative session.
Government Efficiency and Accountability
As a member of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, I’ve spent hours in hearings evaluating the budgets of each state agency. I strongly believe we must make the budget process more transparent, with stated goals and measurement of performance. I supported legislation last session requiring state agencies to set goals and to measure progress toward attaining those goals. The legislation was, unfortunately, vetoed by Governor Gibbons but will be reintroduced next session.
In the past 18 months, we have cut more than $1 billion in state spending. And, we are continuing to look for ways our state can save money. During the last session, I supported legislation that limited the use of expensive, outside consultants. We must also work to make our government work more efficiently by consolidating or sharing services where possible and improving the collection of unpaid taxes.
We must work to protect vital state services—education, health care and public safety. I supported the State Revenue Stabilization Fund, a forced savings account for our state, to avoid the drastic cuts that these programs face during economic downturns.
Education
My kids are grown now, but I know how important it is that every student receives a quality education. When I speak with educators, they tell me how important it is that they have the resources in the classroom to help every student reach his or her potential. I voted to restore millions of dollars in cuts to education proposed by Governor Gibbons, and I support the creation of a rainy day fund for education to help prevent severe cuts in the future.
We must also continue to work to improve the high school graduation rate, recruit and retain the best teacher for every classroom, reduce class size, return decision making to the school level, and improve school accountability.
Our economic recovery depends on a well-trained workforce. In these difficult times, we must continue to make education a priority.