Editor’s Note: Update Feb. 8: The online version of this article has been updated to reflect the correct name of the Olympic Valley Public Service District, and Meeks Bay Fire District has been added to the list.
In the Tahoe/Truckee government ecosystem, where myriad small, niche local agencies provide the vertebrae for an intricate backbone of leadership, “central” isn’t really applicable. Copious elected boards are collectively our public servants. But they receive in turn for serving, usually in the form of compensation and benefits, with a range of exceptions and variations.
Some of the region’s board positions merely require candidates to live within their district boundaries, while the Town of Truckee requires a “nomination” process with at least 20 signatures. Size of stipends and lists of benefits run the gamut: Direct monetary compensation ranges from Tahoe Truckee Unified School District’s unpaid board positions to IVGID trustees’ $9,000 a year salary. Some positions provide full medical insurance, including for family, while others don’t but provide regional perks like free golf or downhill snow sports.
This chart displays each district’s prerequisites for entry, benefits and compensation, as well as average number of annual meetings and their length each to give a sense of time commitment.
| Jurisdiction | Qualifications | Benefits | Compensation | Meetings |
| Donner Summit Public Utility District | Live and be registered to vote in district | Monthly allowance equivalent to the healthcare plan premium for district employees, depending on age of director | Per regular board meeting, president: $300, vice president: $275, directors: $250; $125 for special meetings; up to $4,800 a year | 12-18 at 2-3 hours |
| Incline Village General Improvement District | Live and be registered to vote in district; $30 filing fee | One free visit to each IVGID venue per week for business purposes; 10% discount on food and beverages, 20% discount on merchandise (same as residents); business lunch expenses compensated.
Same health insurance plans as employees available, but at full cost |
Trustees receive compensation “if the budget is adequate and a majority of the members … vote in favor” of it. In April 2006, the board voted unanimously to increase the yearly compensation to $9,000 per year | 24 at 1-5 hours |
| Meeks Bay Fire Protection District | Live and be registered to vote in district | After one full term (4 years), two thirds of their health insurance medical dental vision | $120 per meeting | 12 at 1 to 2 hours |
| North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District | Live and be registered to vote in district | Public Employees Retirement System (29.25% of gross salary) | $300 per month
|
12 at 1-2 hours |
| North Tahoe Fire Protection District | Live and be registered to vote within the geographical area of the seat one is running for | Paid health insurance | $20 per meeting | 12 at 2 hours |
| North Tahoe Public Utility District | Live and be registered to vote in district | Payment of medical/dental premiums, same as employees (plus family) | $400 per month | 20 at 4 hours |
| Northstar Community Services District | Be registered to vote in district
|
Elective reimbursement of health, welfare benefits up to the amount paid for the equivalent, non-safety employees’ packages | $100 per meeting | 12 at 2-4 hours |
| Olympic Valley Public Service District | Be registered to vote in district | Up to $6,000 per year reimbursement for eligible medical expenses for directors/family | $600 per month | 15 at 4 hours (board); 8 at 1 hour (committee) |
| Sierra Joint Community College District | Live in district; trustee area; candidates must file in Placer, Nevada, Sacramento, and El Dorado counties | Entitled to same level of pre-tax benefits as district employees through what’s called a cafeteria plan
|
$441 maximum monthly stipend, paid only if meetings are attended, prorated by number of meetings | 13 at 3 hours |
| Tahoe City Public Utility District | Live and be registered to vote in district | Fully paid health insurance (plus family) | $400 per month; business/travel expenses reimbursed | 24 at 4 hours |
| Tahoe Truckee Unified School District | Live and be registered to vote in district; trustee area | Paid health insurance incl. medical, dental, vision, and life (plus family) | Unpaid; mileage/expense reimbursement | 30 at 2-3 hours |
| Tahoe Forest Hospital District | Live and be registered to vote in district | Medical, dental, and vision insurance | $100 per meeting up to $500 per month | 24 at 1.5 hours (committee), 3.5 hours (board) |
| The Town of Truckee | Live and be registered to vote in the Town of Truckee. Nomination with at least 20 signatures. | None | $645 per month, regardless of number of meetings | 36 at 3 hours |
| Truckee Donner Public Utility District | Permanent residency in Nevada or Placer County | Medical, dental, vision, prescription insurance (plus family) | $400 per month, regardless of number of meetings | 15 at 1-3 hours |
| Truckee-Donner Recreation and Park District | Live and be registered to vote in district | Use of district facilities, 20% off contract classes and district programs, quarterly pool pass, West End Beach pass, use of rental tables and chairs (plus family) | $100 per meeting | 12-18 at 2-3 hours |
| Truckee Fire Protection District | Live and be registered to vote in district | Life and AD&D insurance ($10,000); CSFA Membership | $100 per meeting up to 4 per month | 12 at 2 hours |
| Truckee Sanitary District | Live and be registered to vote in district | Health Insurance coverage; mileage reimbursement at IRS rate per mile; retirement program included | $265 per day of service | 12-24 at 2-3 hours |
| Truckee Tahoe Airport District | Live and be registered to vote in district | Reimbursed medical insurance, not to exceed what is provided for district employee premiums | $100 per meeting up to 4 per month; mileage reimbursement | 10 at 2-3 hours |
