Transit district tax plan faces challenges

Some commissioners want board to scale back bus service

Julie Ann Grimm | The New Mexican

4/12/2008 - 4/12/08

An effort to increase the gross-receipt tax rate in four Northern New Mexico counties to fund regional transportation faces political hurdles in two of the counties — Santa Fe and Taos.

Some commissioners in the two counties are threatening to withdraw from the North Central Regional Transit District if that board doesn't trim plans for expanded bus service.

The district, which also includes cities and pueblos in the area, decided this spring to ask voters to approve a 3/16th of a cent tax to improve bus service linking various communities and take advantage of the state's planned commuter trains between Santa Fe and metropolitan Albuquerque.

Los Alamos and Rio Arriba counties already plan public hearings before making a formal decision to put the tax proposal on the November general election ballot.

But Santa Fe County Commissioner Mike Anaya, the county's transit district representative, said Friday that he met last week with Commissioner Jack Sullivan and learned of his adamant opposition to the current proposal.

Anaya asked the transit district board to consider scaling back its plans.

"It's hard when you are trying to support something, and one of your fellow commissioners — maybe more than one of your fellow commissioners — are saying negative things about what you are trying to do," Anaya said.

Taos County officials also have been reluctant to go along with the ballot measure. The Taos County member of the district board, Commissioner Charlie Gonzales, said the district faces a tough sell in his county because of recent tax increases for a government building project.

State law enables the transit district to require counties to put the tax hike on the ballot. As a result, some commissioners are considering proposals to withdraw from the district instead of being forced to seek voter approval.

The gross receipts tax — a primary source of revenue for state, municipal and county governments in New Mexico — is collected by businesses in a manner similar to a sales tax on most goods and services.

Sullivan said Friday that he is "less opposed" to a levy of 1/8th of a cent on the dollar than he is to a 3/16th-cent increase.

If the district does not reduce its wish list, he said, he will ask other Santa Fe County commissioners to vote with him in pulling out of the regional transportation effort.

"They need to rethink and start a little less aggressively in their scheduling and their planning," Sullivan said. "The numbers seem to change every minute, and right now Santa Fe County would be subsidizing (Taos and Rio Arriba counties)."

Sullivan noted he does not believe the district is managed well or using federal funds effectively. Another concern, he said, is the state might impose another tax in Santa Fe County to help pay for Rail Runner Express train operations in the near future.

The transit district agreed Friday to hold a special meeting later this month to go over details of the proposed budget should the tax pass muster with voters, but stopped short of agreeing to reconsider the direction.

"I don't feel this board should get bullied by Mr. Sullivan," Rio Arriba County Commissioner Elias Coriz said. "It would be a benefit to all the members if we move in the direction of the 3/16th increase."

The 3/16th tax would generate about $12 million for the district to spend on expanded bus operations. New proposed routes in the Santa Fe area include a community college and Rancho Viejo loop, service to the ski area and more frequent connections on the south side of the city and to towns in the north and south reaches of the county.

Santa Fe City Councilor Miguel Chavez, who represents the city on the district board, said the threats that Santa Fe and Taos counties would withdraw are not good news for city residents who want better public transportation.

"Collectively," Chavez said, "I think we are starting to unravel a little bit."

Contact Julie Ann Grimm at 986-3017 or jgrimm@sfnewmexican.com.