As Taos prepares for next Monday’s public meeting on the Air Force low-altitude training program, other municipalities in New Mexico are also standing up. The Town of Clovis, a near-neighbor to Cannon Air Force Base, has drafted a resolution against the Low Altitude Tactical Navigation proposal. The Mayor has spoken against the proposal, as has Taos Mayor Darren Cordova.

According to an article in “The Las Vegas Optic,” Taos is considered a hotbed of opposition. Time is short, as the deadline for public comment closes on October 4th, but Taos may be well-positioned to lead in the effort to push that deadline back. Taos and its close neighbor -- World Heritage Site Taos Pueblo -- stand on firm ground when it comes to environment that must be protected.

Taos comes together regarding this issue at 6:30 on Monday, September 27th at Don Fernando Hall on Civic Plaza Drive in Taos, New Mexico.

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.

The citizen forum on the proposed one-fourth-of-one-percent increase to local Gross Receipts Taxes has been postponed. It had been scheduled for today, Wednesday, but, due to the death of Councilmember Rudy Abeyta’s father-in-law, Eli Arrellano, it has been postponed. Our condolences and best wishes to the family.

The citizen forum will be held next Tuesday, September 14th, 6:30pm at Council Chambers on Civic Plaza Drive.

The petition against the Council’s unanimous vote to raise the tax has gathered 367 signatures. That means the tax matter will be put to a public vote, probably in the first week of December.

People who spoke last week against the one-fourth-of-one-percent increase in the Gross Receipts Tax for the Town of Taos won’t take “no” for an answer. In spite of their comments, the Town Council voted unanimously for a tax increase.

Jerome Lucero and others have worked-up a petition to put the tax increase to a vote. They submitted their petition to the Town for review. Once they get approval for the wording, they need about 200 signatures from registered voters. If that happens, a special election could be held within 2 ½ months of the signatures’ verification.

Lucero claims the Council is breaking the law, although the actual increase is made up of two one-eighth-of-one-percent increases to be sure the Town met State law requirements. Lucero thinks people are fed-up and want to have their say.

Taos Town Council Member Michael Silva told DMC that his brother’s side-job on the Eco-Park project had nothing to do with the family business, Silva’s Excavation, Inc.
Click Play for a statement from Council Member Silva.

Hopefully that is so and hopefully that’s enough. DMC’s public records request reveals that an $88,000 grant agreement with the State Department of Finance and Administration specifically prohibits public officials from having any interest – direct or indirect – in contracting or subcontracting on the project.

On another project, The Taos News reports in this week’s edition that County Commission Chairman Dan Barrone said his family business got an unexpected subcontract to provide materials for the County complex under construction on Albright Street.

The Town of Taos is thinking about closing or re-using the 15,000 square foot Convention Center’s Rio Grande Hall and Bataan Hall and maybe the Taos Visitor Center, too. Councilmember Gene Sanchez brought it up at yesterday’s Town Council Meeting. Town Manager Daniel Miera is to report back on options for the properties in September. But Sanchez can do the math in his head.

Sanchez told DMC reporters it costs about a half-million dollars a year to operate a Convention Center that brings in less than $80,000 in income. The Town Council has talked this talk in the past, but the recession is forcing hard looks in all directions. Sanchez says the $500,000 annual expense could be better used serving the community instead of competing with local convention facility businesses.

Taos Police unveiled their new patrol car look in Sunday’s Fiesta Parade. It’s a new Chevy Impala with a Police Package: high-output V6 engine, low-profile roof lights, heavy-duty suspension, oversized brakes, front-wheel drive, and flex-fuel capable.

Four more just like it are a-building now and will hit the streets, soon. Officers and parade spectators said they liked the new look – all white with a black side-stripe and the Taos Police Department Shield.

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The Town of Taos held it's annual cleanup day today. Members of the Town Council and others were out and about picking up trash and pulling weeds.

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