Rio Rancho Journal

Voters May Decide Property Tax Hike
By Rosalie Rayburn, Journal Staff Writer

Sandoval County commissioners are scheduled to consider a decision that could affect the scope of health care services within the county.

Commissioners will decide at their Thursday meeting whether to put a question on the November ballot asking for a property tax increase to support health care service providers.

If the commission and voters approve the mill levy increase, it would raise the annual property taxes on a home valued at $100,000 by $141.66, Sandoval County spokesman Gayland Bryant said.

The county estimates the proposed 4.25-mill tax increase would yield $13.27 million a year in additional revenues for health care contracts for providers throughout the county, including hospitals that Presbyterian Healthcare Services and the University of New Mexico plan to build in Rio Rancho, County Manager Debbie Hays said.

“The commission is interested in allowing the public to weigh in on their support for hospital care in Sandoval County,” Hays said Tuesday.

She said state law allows counties to generate funds to support health care providers.

Presbyterian broke ground last week on a $200 million, 121-bed hospital it plans to open in 2010 near Westside Boulevard and Unser.

UNM plans to build a $150 million, 75-bed teaching hospital next to its campus in Downtown Rio Rancho, which it also aims to open in 2010.

Representatives from UNM and Presbyterian say financing is in place to build and operate both hospitals.
UNM Medical Group is a standalone nonprofit corporation owned by the university. It has partnered with Legacy Hospital Partners Inc. of Plano, Texas, a for-profit company, that will provide capital to build the UNM hospital. Presbyterian will use its own funds to build and operate its hospital.

Additional financial support from the county would affect the pace at which the hospital will be able to expand its specialist services, said Todd Sandman, spokesman for Presbyterian Healthcare Services.

“Some types of care may not be economically viable, and (therefore) not available. The mill levy ensures they will be available,” said Billy Sparks, executive director for communications for the UNM Health Sciences Center.

Putting the question on the ballot will allow Sandoval County residents to make their own decision on the issue, Sparks said.