Story prompts new policy on leave

Gov. Bill Richardson on Friday implemented a new policy for state agencies that will require the State Personnel Office to approve all requests for extended leave without pay.

The announcement came in the wake of a KOB-TV report about an Economic Development Department employee who took leave to work on Lt. Gov. Diane Denish's campaign in Northern New Mexico while other state employees picked up her duties.

Richardson has asked Economic Development Secretary Fred Mondragón to reverse his decision to allow the employee to take the leave for four months.

Channel 4 identified the employee as Danielle Duran, an international trade coordinator at the department. She earned $63,000 a year, the station said. She will work on Denish's campaign as a coordinator.

"I don't believe this type of extended leave without pay sends the right message to the public or state employees," Richardson said in a statement. "Budget cuts combined with my hiring freeze have created high vacancy levels within state government and bigger workloads for state employees. We should not be requiring those employees to pick up even more work for employees who could otherwise be doing their jobs."

Taos council considers higher tax rate

TAOS — The cost of buying things in Taos could go up.

The Taos News reports that the Taos Town Council on Aug. 10 will consider raising the town's gross-receipts tax rate by one-quarter of a percentage point. That would bring the total paid on most goods and services — excluding groceries and prescription drugs — to 8.475 percent.

If enacted, Taos would have the third-highest rate in the state. Taos Ski Valley has the highest at 8.6875. Santa Fe's rate is 8.175. The new levy would generate an estimated $800,000 to $900,000 a year for the town government, which has seen a precipitous drop in tax revenue during the past two years, the weekly newspaper said. Town Manager Daniel Miera was quoted as saying he expects the downward trend in revenue to continue and said the local government needs "some recurring revenue sources for the long term."

The proposed tax would be the final gross-receipts tax increase that the town council could make under current state law without seeking voter approval.

Homeless man dies outside Taos shelter

TAOS — Taos police are investigating the unattended death of a 50-year-old man outside the Taos Men's Homeless Shelter, where he had been staying.

Police and the Office of the Medical Investigator said there were no signs of foul play or trauma to the body.

The man, identified as Norman Swarthout, had recently returned to Taos from the state of Washington, Taos Police Chief Rick Anglada said. Shelter staff told police he was "highly intoxicated" and "refused" to come inside to sleep, according to Anglada.

Staff checked on him as late as midnight and saw him smoking a cigarette around that time. When staff checked on him Friday morning, he was dead. A prescription bottle of Oxycodone belonging to the man was found nearby, police said. The prescription had been filled the day before and was missing all 28 pills. Investigators believe the man may have died of an overdose, but the official cause of death was pending a toxicology report and autopsy.

Sewer work to close west-side road

North El Rancho Road, on Santa Fe's west side, will be closed to traffic beginning Monday while a crew works on a sewer line extension.

The road will be blocked from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Friday, a city announcement said.

After the Plumb Tech completes the sewer work, the road will be repaired and repaved, the statement said.

Tax break sought for renewable energy

New Mexico's congressional delegation has introduced legislation that would shield homeowners from paying taxes on renewable energy sold to the electric grid.

Electric utilities — under a state mandate to get 20 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020 — have initiatives to buy electricity from grid-connected customers who have their own renewable electricity sources, typically solar panels. Under current law, however, homeowners must consider payments from utilities as income subject to federal taxation.

Legislation introduced by both New Mexico senators and the state's three members of the U.S. House of Representatives would exempt $2,000 in such payments from federal taxes annually.

"While this could benefit similar incentive initiatives nationwide, it is particularly important in New Mexico given the state's strong push to promote renewable-energy technologies and its vast solar and wind resources, said a news release from U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.

Neighborhood entrance to get face-lift

A $110,000 project will give a face-lift to the entrance to a west-side Santa Fe neighborhood.

Workers with Cerro Azul Construction will renovate, reroof and restucco a gatehouse and restucco an adjacent wall at the entrance to Barrio la Cañada, off Camino Alire, a city news release said.

The project was funded in part by a grant through the state Department of Transportation. Under an agreement with the city, the grant appropriated $80,000 toward the cost of planning, designing and building the improvements.

Chamber plans tax amnesty event

People who want to take advantage of the state's current tax amnesty program can get help during an Aug. 5 event hosted by the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce.

Local tax specialists will be on hand at a brown bag lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the chamber office at the Santa Fe Fashion Outlets, 8380 Cerrillos Road.

The amnesty program, intended to help the state deal with a budget deficit, allows taxpayers to pay previously unreported taxes owed from prior tax years without having to pay interest and penalties.

An announcement said the chamber is presenting the event in partnership with the New Mexico Department of Taxation and Revenue.

Immunization fair to be held July 31

Children 4 to 18 years old can get school immunizations at the Arroyo Chamiso Pediatrics Back to School Immunization Fair from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 31, 2025 S. Galisteo St. No appointment is necessary, and there will be face painting, refreshments and prizes. Parents should bring their child's immunization records. Call 995-4901 for more information.

Scouting stamp unveiling at Philmont

A new postage stamp honoring the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America will be unveiled during a Tuesday ceremony at the Philmont Scout Ranch in northeastern New Mexico.

The 44-cent stamp depicts two different Scouts in clothing and accessories that are often part of the outdoor scouting experience — hats, packs, boots and binoculars, a news release said.

The dedication ceremony, open to the public, is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Villa Philmonte Gazebo at the scouting facility four miles south of Cimarron.

Following the unveiling of a large likeness of the first-class stamp, panes of 20 stamps will be available for sale by representatives of the U.S. Postal Service.

A news release said representatives of the Philmont Museum will also offer for sale souvenir cachet envelopes with a special first-day-of-sale postmark at a cost of $5.

The stamp was designed by artist Craig Frazier of Mill Valley, Calif., under the direction of art director Derry Noyes of Washington, D.C.