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Thursday, April 24, 2008
Councilor Suggests an Audit of County Taxes
By Lee Ross /
Mountain View Telegraph
Taxation without representation may be going on in Edgewood, according to one resident.
At the April 16 Town Council meeting, former councilor Chuck Ring made the analogy about the taxes Edgewood pays to Santa Fe County. And, like American colonists did in 1773 to protest British taxes, he suggested the town do something about it.
“It’s kind of like the Boston Tea Party,” he said, referring to the American colonists’ protest of British taxes in 1773. “Only you might like to call it the Edgewood adobe party.”
Councilor Brad Hill suggested an audit of the county taxes and added that Ring might be a part of the effort. The job would be political in nature, however, and inappropriate for Ring, according to Mayor Robert Stearley.
Stearley did agree with at least part of Ring’s assessment of the situation.
“We haven’t gotten any return on our investments,” Stearley said. “Once it is in the county’s bank account … it’s theirs, and they’ll consider how to spend it.”
Councilor Rita-Loy Simmons said that County Commissioner Mike Anaya has a history of fighting for Edgewood, but is outnumbered.
“We’re still a pariah in Santa Fe,” she said.
In a phone conversation, Anaya mentioned a few items Santa Fe County had worked on for the town.
He said the county ponied up $400,000 for the town’s wastewater system, put in money for a senior center, has built fire stations in the area, paid to pave the parking lot at the First Choice Healthcare office in Edgewood, has contributed money toward a planned regional animal shelter in Edgewood and brought satellite offices to the town.
“Anything that the councilors need I’ve always been in support of,” Anaya said.
Town resident Janelle Turner suggested another tactic for Edgewood to deal with Santa Fe County.
“What might help out with county officials is if we are willing to work with them,” she said.
Stearley pointed out that one way to do that might be for the council to come together as a group when they approach the county.
In other business, a new employee, Tracey Sweat, was approved as an assistant in the town offices.
Also, Myra Oden, executive director of the Edgewood Chamber of Commerce, presented a report of visitors to the Edgewood Chamber of Commerce. In the report, which is prepared quarterly, she noted that visitors are down 31 percent.
She said that is probably because of the construction, referring to the widening project at the intersection of N.M. 344 and Old Route 66. Access to the chamber — which is in the same building at the New Mexico State Police and the Santa Fe County’s satellite office — is on a dirt road behind Walgreen’s.
Councilor Glenn Felton pointed out that there were math errors in the report, and also asked for additional detail, including the visitors’ point of origin.
Felton said the chamber may have had a “lapse towards nonperformance.” He also mentioned that the council was going to look at the budget, which usually includes paying for the lease on the office the chamber of commerce uses.
Oden said she expects more visitors as the weather warms up, but she requested that the town renew the lease on the offices, which she said expires on June 30. She urged the council to renew the lease.
“Not just for the good of the businesses, but for the good of the community,” she said.
Stearley assured her that money for the office space is in the current budget.
The first budget meeting was scheduled for Wednesday and future budget meetings are scheduled for May 10 at 9 a.m. and May 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Edgewood Community Center.
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