Rio Rancho Journal

Tax Issues To Be on Nov. Ballot
By Rosalie Rayburn, Journal Staff Writer

Sandoval County voters will get to decide whether they support tax increases to generate funds for expanded health care and public transportation.

Ballots in the November general election will carry a question asking voters if they agree to a property tax increase to help pay for health services at the planned Presbyterian Healthcare Services and University of New Mexico hospitals in Rio Rancho.

Another question will gauge support for an eighth-cent gross receipts tax increase to help pay for the Rail Runner train and associated public transportation services.

Sandoval County commissioners approved requests to put both questions on the ballot in 4-0 votes at their meeting Thursday. Commission Chairman Joshua Madalena was absent.

The proposed 4.25 mill levy increase would raise the annual property taxes on a home valued at $100,000 by $141.66. The increase could be in effect for up to eight years and is expected to yield $13.27 million annually in additional revenues for health care contracts.

Representatives from Presbyterian Healthcare Services and UNM Health Sciences Center who spoke at the meeting said funds generated by the tax increase would allow them to expand specialist care services more quickly.

UNM executive director for communications Billy Sparks told commissioners a survey of 700 county residents conducted in July for UNM by Research and Polling showed that 84 percent of respondents felt it was “very important” to have a full-service general hospital in Sandoval County. About two-thirds of respondents (67 percent) said they would support the proposed mill levy increase to help build, operate or maintain a hospital.

Commissioner Jack Thomas said the commission could not make the decision to increase taxes for the hospital, but could enable voters to do so at the polls.

The proposed Rio Rancho hospitals would give Sandoval County residents, who currently have to drive to hospitals in Albuquerque, better access to medical care, Thomas said.

Rio Rancho resident John Snowden, a mental health services advocate, told commissioners he hoped funds would help provide more mental health services within the county.

In an interview after the meeting, UNM Health Sciences Center executive vice president Paul Roth told Snowden that mental health services would be provided at its Rio Rancho hospital.

The proposed gross receipts tax increase for public transportation may affect three counties: Sandoval, Bernalillo and Valencia.

The Sandoval County Commission is the first to approve putting the question to voters in November. Local governments in Bernalillo and Valencia counties are expected to consider the issue this month.

A majority of voters in the whole three-county region must approve the tax increase for it to take effect.
It is expected to raise $26 million annually. Half would help pay for Rail Runner train operations in the three-county region. Half would go toward rural transit and commuter services, said Phil Rios, the county's public works director.

Commission vice chairman Dave Bency said he thought Sandoval County may be due some credit on the tax.

He said Sandoval County agreed four years ago to contribute $10 million to purchase an engine and two cars for the Rail Runner and there was talk at a commission meeting of a possible three-year tax credit to offset that expense.

County spokesman Gayland Bryant said county staff would have to research the minutes of the meeting before he could comment. The issue of a possible tax credit would not affect the tax question appearing on the November ballot, Bryant said in an interview after the meeting.