Daily Taos News

The Taos County Complex completed just last summer cost $46 million and was a long time coming. However, what county leaders voted in favor of this week that has some Taos residents shaking their heads. The five-member commission voted to name the buildings in the complex paid for by taxpayers after themselves. The complex houses the detention center, courthouse and administration building. All the commissioners agreed with the idea except one, Commissioner Daniel Barrone, who voted "OK" instead of "Yes." Barrone says he has no interest in seeing his name on any of the buildings right now but went along with the vote so he would have a say in whose name eventually does end up there. Since there are five commissioners and only three buildings, it was suggested the men draw straws. Whoever gets the biggest straw gets his name solo on a building while pairs of commissioners have to share the other two buildings.