WaterClaim

An analogy. The city of Lincoln is over its allocation of electricity. It can either shut off power to every commercial business for several years until it is back in compliance, or it can build a new power line into town to deal with the need. The city is not allowed to use any new taxes, nor can it add to the existing taxes, and the State will not provide funds. Furthermore, the commercial businesses are not allowed to build the line themselves. The only option is for the businesses to learn how to make do with no electricity or for everyone in town to use 1/2 as much.

Currently, the NRDs have one option in complying with the terms the State has agreed to on their behalf regarding water. That option is to order the reduction in water use without compensation. The NRDs are limited in the taxes they are allowed to collect, and new taxes are prohibited. The State is not providing enough money to permit any other option than a shutdown.

Governor Heineman has stated that he will oppose any sales tax or fee on irrigation to resolve the water issue. There are other taxes that could be used, but it is unclear if he will oppose those as well or if he would allow something like a property tax or an appropriation from the State general fund.

What happens if the Governor blocks all money for resolving the Republican River Basin and Platte River Basin water issues? This isn’t to say he will block all money, but what happens if he does? The Governor has refrained from putting any solutions on the table. However, he has taken several options off the table.

A lot of people have put a lot of effort into finding solutions and have no idea whether or not they are pursuing a path that the Governor will permit. I personally believe it is in the State’s best interest if the Governor either outlines the parameters of what he will work with or lays out his suggestions for resolving the issues.

Posted by Steve Smith at 04:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Governor Heineman opposes any kind of incrase in the sales tax and opposes a fee on irrigators to pay for water solutions.

How does he plan to pay the bills?

The governor says it's premature to tip his hand now but that he is looking at a variety of options.

Chad Smith, a member of the state's Water Policy Task Force, says State lawmakers “will be left to their own devices. “That’s a problem,” Smith said. “We should’ve made sure we had something in front of them.”

Posted by Steve Smith at 04:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Governor Heineman is taking applications for the job of director of the DNR.

The Lincoln Journal has a story.

Posted by Steve Smith at 04:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Central Platte NRD is not happy with the State's position on complying with the Cooperative Agreement and LB962. The NRD felt that the State has promised to take responsibility for the required offsets.

However, Ron Bishop, manager of the Central Platte NRD, says, "But since Gov. Dave Heineman signed the agreement last month, We have heard a change in the way they have been talking about those depletions and who would offset them."

The "they" Bishop is referring to is the Governor's agent Ann Bleed with the DNR.

Bishop said it now appears the state is passing the buck back to the local NRDs and irrigators to let them figure out how they are going to make up any depletions over the last nine years.

And the consequence of that may force a lot of irrigators to shut off their irrigation pumps and convert to dryland farming so the endangered species will have enough water during their spring and fall annual migration.

"If the state does it, they come up with funds and acquire those water rights, but if it falls back to the NRDs and local irrigators, the retirements still take place but there is no payment for it," he said.

Bishop quotes taken from the Grand Island Independent (registration required)

Posted by Steve Smith at 07:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Real Property taxes go to the local community for things like schools, roads, and NRDs. In the 44th Legislative District 67% of the real property taxes come from agricultural property. 11% come from commercial property with the majority of that being related to agriculture. The remaining 23% of the taxes come from residential property.

Irrigated land makes up 41% of the land values. This varies significantly by county.

If Red Willow County is excluded, then numbers are 74% directly related to agricultural land, 9% commercial and 17% residential.

You can review more detailed information on WaterClaim charts.

Posted by Steve Smith at 04:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

WaterClaim supported candidates have great success

Mark Christensen - wins 44th District Legislative seat

Jeff Wallin - President of WaterClaim wins Upper Republican NRD at-large seat

Total sweep of all Middle Repbulican NRD seats

Marty Shurr
Benjie Loomis
Dan Nelsen
Josh Friesen
Brad Randel
Kevin Fornoff

Matt Harrison - Lower Republican, only seat with competing candidates.

There is a tie for the 10th sub-district in the URNRD. Brett Bullock and Greg Pelster each received 151 votes. Provissional ballots are yet to be counted.

Posted by Steve Smith at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Kansas elects a new Attorney General. D-Paul Morrison.

Part of Morrison's campaign focused on the water dispute with Nebraska. He promised to do more to force Nebraska to reduce water usage.

Posted by Steve Smith at 11:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)