Act now to oppose the Albuquerque tax increase!

At their meeting on Monday, March 16, Albuquerque’s City Council will likely be voting on a plan to increase the City gross receipts tax by a massive 0.4875%. We’d like your help to stop it. We believe that Councilors Lewis, Grout, and Champine are solid “no’s” but it is worth contacting ALL other members of the council including co-sponsor of the tax hike Brook Bassan.

You can reach each or all councilors here. 

Fresh off a legislative session during which New Mexicans saw increased vehicle registration fees and business tax hikes Albuquerque’s City Council is going to be considering a massive 0.4875% increase in the local gross receipts tax. The tax hike has been introduced by councilors Joaquín Baca, Brook Bassan. Although Council elections are non-partisan Bassan is widely considered a Republican while Baca is a Democrat. The current total tax rate is 7.625% in the City meaning the tax hike would take the City to 8.113 percent. Neighboring Rio Rancho which also has substantially lower property taxes has a 7.4375% GRT.

The planned GRT hike would be a 6.4% increase in the overall GRT rate. But, Albuquerque currently collects GRT at a rate of 2.3125% meaning that from the City’s perspective this is a massive 21% tax hike in Albuquerque’s gross receipts tax. 

While New Mexico’s politicians tout “affordability” the reality is that politicians in the State simply cannot get enough of our tax money. In 2017 the City spent $926,388. That number jumped to $1.5 billion by 2026. Yet, once again there are plans afoot for another tax increase at City Hall. As a reminder the gross receipts tax is considered a “regressive” tax meaning that it impacts lower income taxpayers the most.

Here are a few proposed messages you can send (or edit for your purposes). Use this link to find councilor contact information. 

1) I urge you to vote NO on the proposed tax increase which, if adopted, would increase the City’s gross receipts tax by a significant 0.4875%. Council rejected a 3/8ths cent tax hike last year and should do the same this year. If adopted, this tax would push the City above 8%. The City which has been flush with revenue in recent years simply doesn’t need the money. This is an unnecessary cash grab and I urge you to reject it.

2) I urge you to vote NO on the proposed gross receipts tax increase. City spending approximately doubled over Mayor Keller’s first 8 years in office from $750 million to $1.5 billion. We have resources available to address core city functions without raising taxes.

3) I urge you to vote NO on the proposed gross receipts tax. The GRT is a “regressive” tax meaning that the poor are impacted more than are wealthier people. We should ALL be concerned about affordability and bringing down the cost of living for all Albuquerque residents. This is absolutely NOT the time to enact big tax increases on those least able to afford it.