The Lyon County Board of Commissioners proposed an ordinance to set a 5 cent per gallon tax on diesel fuel.

The Board heard public testimony both in support and opposition. The Board will conduct a second hearing currently scheduled for March 19, 2020.

Senate Bill 48 which passed in the 2019 Legislature authorizes the County Commision to impose the tax with a 2/3 majority vote of the Board.

If the ordinance is approved it is estimated to generate $2.2 million in revenue for road maintenance. That funding is then split between the county and two cities based upon assessed valuation of the respective jurisdictions.

Currently local government does not receive any tax dollars on diesel fuel sales. Gasoline is currently taxed at 9cents/gallon for the Regional Transportation Commission (split based upon assessed valuation between the county and both cities) and 6.35 cents for the County Road fund

Kelsey is a fourth-generation Nevadan, English professor and investigative journalist working in the Sierras. More importantly, she is an advocate of high desert agriculture and rescue dogs.