Albuquerque City Council eyes a big tax hike to pay for over-budget swimming pool: vote Monday night
After having initially rejected a proposal could increase the GRT rate by 0.4875% bringing the total rate up to a little more than 8.113% percent, the City of Albuquerque on Monday, June 15, is expected to vote on that increase AGAIN, but the question will be whether to put it on the ballot. The increase could generate $113 million annually in added revenue for the City, costing local residents more every time they make a purchase.
The hike is unfortunately being once again proposed by Councilor Brook Bassan who seems hellbent on obtaining more money for the swimming pool at North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center which has suffered from an original cost of $17 million, an estimated current cost of more than $70 million. According to Bassan the City needs an estimated $36 million to finish the project.
We working to push ABQ City Council to oppose this tax increase and we need your help.
- Come to City Council and speak in opposition. You can sign up on Friday afternoon using the link at the bottom of this website. We recommend general public comment, but you are welcome to wait for debate on the bill as well.
- Send a note of opposition to city council here.
It is completely crazy to even ask voters to pass a $113 million tax increase to fund a swimming pool that needs “just” $36 million to be completed. Voters in Albuquerque would ALSO be crazy for embracing this unnecessary tax in November, but they shouldn’t even be asked. This swimming pool project is a disaster. Cost overruns of this size are completely unacceptable and quite frankly should be illegal.