Commissioner Hill’s Tahoe Dreams Meet Budget Reality

Tahoe Daily Tribune photo of Community Forum in Incline Village Nevada August, 2024

Alexis Hill and her campaign team are running a Facebook ad accusing Masha Berkbigler of sending an “attack” piece against her. Hill has commented it is absolutely true, “I want our community to have public transit access to and around Lake Tahoe.” That’s great, but not what the graphic they claim Berkbigler is attacking them with says.

Alexis Hills “attack” ad against Marsha Berkbigler. 

But that isn’t want the graphic questions, nor is it actually linked to Berkbigler. So again, the Alexis Hill campaign team is claiming an “attack” that they can’t prove, but that’s not new and seems to be their trademark tactic.

Back on October 11, 2024, when Alexis Hill was profiled by Terry Reynolds on KOLO News 8 the statement was made Commissioner Hill wants to, “develop a shuttle serve to Lake Tahoe so kids and their families of lower income can experience its beauty.

The graphic Alexis Hill’s campaign is alleging Marsha Berkbigler has been texting to Incline Village/Crystal Bay residents. Thus “attacking” Hill. 

Alexis Hill is now attacking Marsha Berkbigler, so would that be a double or triple back-attack ad, since it’s debatable if Berkbigler is behind the graphic. We’re confused.

Back when Alexis Hill was running against then former Commissioner Marsha Berkbigler in 2020, Hill pitched this low-income families at the lake idea. Berkbigler immediately asked how it would be funded and was called out for being callous and not caring about the impoverished. Berkbigler lost and Hill ascended to the throne and guess what, that’s right, Hill never fulfilled her campaign promise, no bus trips for low-income families took place.

Fast forward to 2024, and once again, “I wannabe reelected” Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill is floating the heartwarming notion of shuttling low-income families to Lake Tahoe's pristine shores. It's a picture-perfect proposal that unfortunately seems to have skipped a few chapters in the financial storybook.

Sure, getting the bus there is step one – but last we checked, you can't eat scenery or swim in good intentions. Who's picking up the tab for lunch? Beach access? Sunscreen? Unless money grows on pine trees up at elevation, someone needs to crunch more than just the mileage numbers.

While we're all for expanding horizons, perhaps the commissioner could expand on which current county services should go on a diet to feed this field trip fantasy. It's one thing to propose a feel-good journey to the lake; it's another to navigate the choppy waters of actual budget planning.

Memo to Commissioner Hill: Before promising a day at the beach, maybe make sure you're not leaving taxpayers underwater.