Whose problem? Current plan puts most of compliance cost on property in Republican basin

Southwest Nebraska residents and all others living in the Republican River basin will have have to bear the costs of compliance with Republican River Compact, under Sen. Mark Christensen's water bill, LB 701.

But non-compliance is not just a local issue, constituents told the senator this morning at the Chamber Legislature conference call.

Rolled together with four other bills, LB 701 will give local NRDs the authority to levy 10 cents per hundred dollars in valuation, a continuation of the existing .085 cents per hundred dollars currently allowed or an occupation tax up to $10 per acre.

This would amount to $100 on an $100,000 house, Christensen estimated.

The money would go toward leasing surface water rights, although no definite amount of funds have been calculated.

Christensen didn't deny that levying additional property taxes on those living in the Republican River Basin District seems unfair, citing how he will have to pay taxes on the new home he's building, his business and farming ground. "But doing nothing is worse than doing it ourselves," he maintained. If the state takes care of it, a judge will probably decide to shut off water for at least three years in the area, he argued, which would devastate farmers and rural communities.

"I hate having to do it, but the consequences of letting a judge decide is worse," he said.

He predicted that the bills could move forward to the full floor as soon as Monday, if the amendments are completed by then. If passed with an emergency clause, it could go into effect this spring.

But making rural communities cough up the cost for a state-wide issue had those attending the conference call squirming.

The entire state is going to be sued over non- compliance, not just Southwest Nebraska, McCook City Manger Kurt Fritsch told the senator. The Republican River Water Compact is not just a local issue but a state and interstate issue, he said, and if communities within the Republican Basin offer to come up with the costs as outlined in LB 701, then the state will not step up and do their part.

In addition, when McCook and other small communities had to come up with millions of dollars to address their water quality issues, the NRDs weren't willing to step up and help out then.

"I understand we're inter-related," Fritsch said, "but the biggest hit will be on urban dwellers," with land in the city valued at a higher price.

"How much were the irrigators willing to step up with McCook's water problems?" he asked

The advantages of allowing NRDs to decide is that it allows local control, he said, with local NRDs making the decision. "We can control the benefits and control how fast it's done, he said.

He said that if people felt strongly enough about the issue, they should contact their local members of their NRD.

The Middle Republican Natural Resources District will meet in Curtis on Monday at 4 p.m.

Other issues Christensen mentioned were LB 658 and LB 502. LB 658 will be heard on the Legislative floor this morning and concerns the repeal of LB 126 that closed Class I Schools. Preliminary approval was given to LB 502, a law that would change Nebraska's inheritance tax rate. This bill has been amended to avoid taking money way from county governments.

He also spoke briefly on the proposed tax cuts, which in his estimation will offer very little benefit and is not convinced of any real advantages.