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What is The Incline Village General Improvement District (“IVGID”) According to Us?

IVGID 101 Posted on by

IVGID has been the subject of significant controversy and criticism according to recent reports and investigations. It’s facing serious financial and operational challenges. The Nevada Department of Taxation’s (“NDOT’s”) Committee on Local Government Finance (“CLGF”) has appointed a subcommittee to examine IVGID’s financial irregularities to determine if it should be placed on “fiscal watch.”1 This decision comes after the District’s General Fund budget augmentation was denied in September 2024, and following the resignations of key staff members2. A forensic audit report released in July 2024 raised concerns about IVGID’s financial practices. The report identified several areas requiring immediate remediation3. There have been allegations of mismanagement and lack of transparency4. Additionally, there are concerns about the District’s handling of public records requests and financial documents5. With these matters firmly in mind, here we examine whether IVGID can be characterized as a criminal syndicate? We harken to the meme “if the shoe fits, wear it.”6 And here, the shoe appears to fit! So with that said,

Listen to the NRS 207.370 definition of criminal syndicate:

“Any combination of persons, so structured that the organization will continue its operation even if individual members enter or leave the organization, (and) which engages in or has the purpose of engaging in racketeering activity.”

What kind of activities represent “racketeering activities?” NRS 207.390 provides the answer:

“Engaging in at least two crimes related to racketeering (see below) that have the same or similar pattern, intents, results, accomplices, victims or methods of commission, or are otherwise interrelated by distinguishing characteristics and are not isolated incidents, if at least one of the incidents occurred after July 1, 1983, and the last of the incidents occurred within 5 years after a prior commission of a crime related to racketeering.”

What kind of crimes are “related to racketeering?” NRS 207.360 provides the answer:

“The commission of, attempt to commit or conspiracy to commit any of the following crimes7…

      8.  Robbery;

      9.  Taking property from another under circumstances not amounting to robbery;

      10.  Extortion…

      18.  Grand larceny…

      27.  Embezzlement of money…valued at $650 or more…

      28.  Obtaining…money…valued at $650 or more…by means of false pretenses;

      29.  Perjury or subornation of perjury;

      30.  Offering false evidence…

      32.  Insurance fraud pursuant to NRS 686A.291; (and…)

      35.  Any violation of NRS 205.377 (multiple transactions involving fraud or deceit in the course of an enterprise).”

Because the purpose of this discussion is not to demonstrate IVGID’s commission of any or all of the above-crimes related to racketeering, here we go no further other than to make the argument that under NRS 207.360 the District may have engaged in at least two of the crimes herein recited related to racketeering.

How Can Government Be a Criminal Syndicate? We offer two answers. The first is NRS 207.380. Given NRS 207.400 makes it unlawful:

“For a person…(c) who is employed by or associated with any enterprise to conduct or participate, directly or indirectly, in: (1) the affairs of the enterprise through racketeering activity; or (2) racketeering activity through the affairs of the enterprise (by)…

(d) Intentionally…organiz(ing), manag(ing), direct(ing), supervis(ing) or financ(ing) a criminal syndicate;

(e) Knowingly…incit(ing) or induc(ing) others to engage in violence or intimidation to promote or further the criminal objectives of the criminal syndicate;

(f)…Furnish(ing) advice, assistance or direction in the conduct, financing or management of the affairs of the criminal syndicate with the intent to promote or further the criminal objectives of the syndicate;

(g) Intentionally…promot(ing) or further(ing) the criminal objectives of a criminal syndicate by inducing the commission of an act or the omission of an act by a public officer or employee which violates his or her official duty;

(h)…Transport(ing or)…attempt(ing) to transport property or…provid(ing) property to another person knowing that the other person intends to use the property to further (a) racketeering activity…

(a) Who has with criminal intent received any proceeds derived, directly or indirectly, from racketeering activity to use or invest, whether directly or indirectly, any part of the proceeds, or the proceeds derived from the investment or use thereof, in the acquisition of: (1) any title to or any right, interest or equity in real property; or (2) any interest in or the establishment or operation of any enterprise;

(b) Through racketeering activity to acquire or maintain, directly or indirectly, any interest in or control of any enterprise;

(c) Who is employed by or associated with any enterprise to conduct or participate, directly or indirectly, in: (1) the affairs of the enterprise through racketeering activity; or (2) racketeering activity through the affairs of the enterprise; (and…)

(i) Who knows that property represents proceeds of, or is directly or indirectly derived from, any unlawful activity to conduct or attempt to conduct any transaction involving…property.”

NRS 207.380 defines “’enterprise’ to include…illicit as well as licit enterprises and governmental as well as other entities.”

The second is Bell, California. Listen to this description of the scandal which appears in Wikipedia:

“The Bell scandal involved the misappropriation of public funds in Bell, California…over a period of several years…In July 2010, the Los Angeles Times published an investigative article on possible malfeasance in the neighboring city of Maywood, revealing that the city officials of Bell received salaries that were reported as the highest in the nation. Subsequent investigations found atypically high property tax rates, allegations of voter fraud in municipal elections, and other irregularities which heightened the ensuing scandal. These and other reports led to widespread criticism and a demand for city officials to resign.

On August 10, 2010, Standard & Poor’s lowered Bell’s general obligation and pension bond ratings to BB, two notches below investment grade, and placed the ratings on a watchlist for potential further downgrade. S&P credit analyst Michael Taylor said: ‘We believe that the recent resignation of the city manager and finance director, and reports that the assets purchased with the unrated series 2007 lease-secured debt have decreased in value, have created uncertainty as to the city’s future actions.’

Eventually, seven Bell city officials…were convicted on graft and corruption charges, and were given sentences ranging from probation to twelve years in prison.”

Because the purpose of this discussion is not to demonstrate the similarities between what has taken place in Incline Village and Crystal Bay under the stewardship of IVGID, and the City of Bell, here we go no further other than to make the argument that under NRS 207.370, et seq., IVGID can be a criminal syndicate.

Conclusion: As you go through the many subjects addressed in this web site, always ask yourself; for whose real benefit does IVGID exist? Since Washoe County is the seat of IVGID’s governance, why the need for IVGID to furnish the same services?

at did IVGID have to do with creating our beautiful mountains? And the Lake? And the clean air? And the water? And why we need a competing seat of governance when we already have Washoe County? Have you ever thought about our community as the reverse of mythical Sherwood Forest? You know. A place where the special interests in our community can use our little GID under the guise of the mantra “it’s for the community,” to steal from the poor to feed themselves. A place where the masses8 are forced to financially subsidize their fat cat neighbor’s recreation. And those who yell the loudest unabashedly display disdain for the silent majority. And you’re embarrassed to call these people your neighbors. That’s “Income Village.”9

And now you know!

  1. Go to https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/nv-department-of-taxation-subcomittee-to-determine-if-ivgid-should-be-placed-on-fiscal-watch/.
  2. Go to https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/nv-department-of-taxation-subcomittee-to-determine-if-ivgid-should-be-placed-on-fiscal-watch/.
  3. Go to https://ourivcbvoice.com/ivgid-forensic-audit-report-released-what-property-owners-need-to-know/.
  4. Go to https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/local/incline-village-residents-general-improvement-district-board-too-secretive/.
  5. Go to https://thenevadaglobe.com/articles/the-globe-investigates-incline-village-general-improvement-district/.
  6. In other words, if something said or suggested…is true…person(s) should accept it as true” (go to https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/if%20the%20shoe%20fits#:~:text=idiom,should%20accept%20it%20as%20true).
  7. Although there are thirty-seven (37) listed crimes, many have no application to IVGID and this discussion. So with the reader’s permission, here we will list only the ones which are relevant to this discussion. And as the reader will see, we really only need to list two.
  8. IVGID reports there are approximately 8,200 local parcels in Incline Village/Crystal Bay.
  9. Incline Village’s nickname (see https://paradise-realestate.com/what-is-incline-village-nevada-all-about/).

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