Last night’s Citizens Forum to discuss the Taos Town Council’s vote to increase local Gross Receipts Taxes by 25 cents per 100 dollars spent was open to all. Just a few dozen people showed up. Yet, 30-times that many signed the petition that will likely force a public referendum on the issue come December.

An opposition leader spoke somewhat harshly of the Council’s state-sanctioned right to vote the tax without a referendum. Some election-petition signees supported the tax, but wanted the Council to work harder and more clearly to explain their revenue plans.

Councilmember Rudy Abeyta, recognizing the likelihood of a coming election, appealed to the people to support the tax; and thus the community.