Dear editor:

I read with interest the spring newsletter from the Shoshone Irrigation District (“SID”) that was written by Mr. Trent Reed, general manager, and is dated Jan. 30. In this letter Mr. Reed states that the SID total budget is $1,426,509 and the cost split between large and small farmers is $965,415 vs. 461,094 or 68% vs 32%. While interesting data, it is incomplete. The total acres owned, I feel, is a better measure of what the most accurate method of cost sharing. The total acres owned (large farmers/small farmers) is 27,406.16 vs. 6,159.56 or a split of 82% vs. 18%. Since the large farmers own the majority of the irrigated land it is logical that they pay more. But look again at the numbers and you see that the large farmers are paying 68% of the total cost, but they own 82% of the total irrigated land. In other words, they seem to be under paying by 14%!

How was this 14% of the total budget shifted to the small farmer? In my opinion, we come back to the $300 landowner fee, the only fee that is charged per landowner that is NOT per acre owned. As I have pointed out before, the large farmers are paying $80,400 and the small farmers are paying $342,000 (268 large farmers vs. 1,140 small farmers) of the total landowner fee paid. Furthermore, the $300 landowner fee, since it is assessed on a per-owner basis, when shown on a cost per acre basis, results in the small farmer on average is paying $55.52 vs. $2.93 for the large farmer. How is this fair and equitable?

In conclusion, I continue to feel that the $300 landowner fee is a cost shift tool as it is the only fee that is not charged on a per acre basis. For those SID members who feel the same way, it is important that you attend the annual meeting and make your voices, opinions and frustrations heard! At this meeting we should again seek to change the $300 landowner fee to a per-acre fee, that is the same for both large and small farmers and that the election process be more transparent and individual qualifications be subject to review by everyone.  

If Mr. Reed, or anyone else, has any corrections or comments, I ask that they respond by writing a letter to the editor so that everyone is informed.

I may be reached at 307robstevens@gmail.com if you should have questions or comments. We are also working on starting both a website and a Facebook account to help us communicate with everyone in our region, our elected officials, and others statewide.

Rob Stevens

Powell