Nevada Farmers & Ranchers Concerned About Double Whammy
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
In expanding on the ideas shared in the last “Kickin Up Dust” post regarding Nevada’s agricultural needs from the state budget, there are programs and services included within the state budget that farmers and ranchers need. There are also programs and services that are slated for cut-backs in the budget proposal offered by Governor Gibbons.
It was noted in yesterday’s post, “Nevada Agriculture’s State Budget Needs” that growers who raise seed need the certification that’s offered through the Nevada Department of Agriculture. The Nevada Department of Agriculture’s service for this certification is provided with a fee to the users, but the fees paid don’t cover the entire costs of the state employee who carries out the work. There are alternatives on where you can go (outside the state of Nevada) to obtain the necessary services, but those options are not inexpensive.
Certification for organic production is also a service that’s currently available from the Nevada Department of Agriculture and is carried out by the same employee who’s doing the seed certification program. Although the fees paid by producers seeking certification are “small” in comparison with the costs of keeping the state employee on-the-job – the organic farmers paying the fee are small producers with little room in their businesses’ margins to ante up much more cash for the program they need for certification.
Another major area on the chopping block involves positions that operate to help protect Nevada livestock from predators. In the proposed budget five of the 12 state-funded positions are slated for termination, leaving some rather large gaps in where producers can turn for predator control services.
Paying Higher Fees And Paying More Taxes:
The “double whammy,” highlighted in the headline for this piece, comes from understanding that in order to keep the services and programs it is highly likely that agricultural producers are going to need to step forward and pay even more of the costs associated with receiving the service or program benefits. Competition for other funds is going to be extremely heated and regardless of the arguments of need – ag. producers aren’t going to fare well in the race with teachers and other more wired-in challengers.
Paying higher fees to receive the services you need is also likely to come in combination with a tax increase as well. Anyone thinking that members of the majority party aren’t going to slam and jam a tax increase through the 75th legislative session isn’t paying very close attention to the way the winds are blowing.
Anyone believing that Governor Gibbons’ pledge, to not go along with tax increases, can withstand the necessary majority of votes available to pass the tax hike and override the likely veto – also needs to re-examine their thinking.
The key for farmers and ranchers is getting involved to establish a game-plan on what priorities need their attention and then figuring out how they will be able to best accomplish the financing to pay for covering those costs.
Having offered these options for taking care of themselves, they need to make the case that additional tax burdens may not be justifiable. The message of “We’re paying our share” is best delivered when you can point out real and recent examples of that being the case.
In expanding on the ideas shared in the last “Kickin Up Dust” post regarding Nevada’s agricultural needs from the state budget, there are programs and services included within the state budget that farmers and ranchers need. There are also programs and services that are slated for cut-backs in the budget proposal offered by Governor Gibbons.
It was noted in yesterday’s post, “Nevada Agriculture’s State Budget Needs” that growers who raise seed need the certification that’s offered through the Nevada Department of Agriculture. The Nevada Department of Agriculture’s service for this certification is provided with a fee to the users, but the fees paid don’t cover the entire costs of the state employee who carries out the work. There are alternatives on where you can go (outside the state of Nevada) to obtain the necessary services, but those options are not inexpensive.
Certification for organic production is also a service that’s currently available from the Nevada Department of Agriculture and is carried out by the same employee who’s doing the seed certification program. Although the fees paid by producers seeking certification are “small” in comparison with the costs of keeping the state employee on-the-job – the organic farmers paying the fee are small producers with little room in their businesses’ margins to ante up much more cash for the program they need for certification.
Another major area on the chopping block involves positions that operate to help protect Nevada livestock from predators. In the proposed budget five of the 12 state-funded positions are slated for termination, leaving some rather large gaps in where producers can turn for predator control services.
Paying Higher Fees And Paying More Taxes:
The “double whammy,” highlighted in the headline for this piece, comes from understanding that in order to keep the services and programs it is highly likely that agricultural producers are going to need to step forward and pay even more of the costs associated with receiving the service or program benefits. Competition for other funds is going to be extremely heated and regardless of the arguments of need – ag. producers aren’t going to fare well in the race with teachers and other more wired-in challengers.
Paying higher fees to receive the services you need is also likely to come in combination with a tax increase as well. Anyone thinking that members of the majority party aren’t going to slam and jam a tax increase through the 75th legislative session isn’t paying very close attention to the way the winds are blowing.
Anyone believing that Governor Gibbons’ pledge, to not go along with tax increases, can withstand the necessary majority of votes available to pass the tax hike and override the likely veto – also needs to re-examine their thinking.
The key for farmers and ranchers is getting involved to establish a game-plan on what priorities need their attention and then figuring out how they will be able to best accomplish the financing to pay for covering those costs.
Having offered these options for taking care of themselves, they need to make the case that additional tax burdens may not be justifiable. The message of “We’re paying our share” is best delivered when you can point out real and recent examples of that being the case.
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