EDC exploring idea of upping snow removal tax

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 24 directed staff to look into the possibility of raising the snow removal tax. This would affect people living on the south and west shores in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Today those on the South Shore pay $20 a year, on the West Shore it is $50 per developed parcel. This tax was approved in 1983.

Supervisor Sue Novasel, who represents Lake Tahoe, made the motion Feb. 24 for staff to look into the feasibility of a ballot measure for November 2016 as well as to explore all the funding options.

The money collected from the tax pays for equipment.

“The cost of a motor grader in 1983 was $60,000, today a motor grader is close to $400,000. That $20 you pay on the South Shore has not kept up,” Tom Halverson with the county transportation department told Lake Tahoe News.

Halverson said the county does not have a dollar amount set yet as to what the tax should be increased to.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report