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.
UPDATE: You can help us fight back! RGF president Paul Gessing will be leading a training session for citizen activists with our friends at Americans for Prosperity to push back against this tax hike.
Details below:
Friday, June 12
11:00 AM
3339 Central Ave NE
Lunch provided
Free parking on surrounding side streets. Metered parking is available on Central and in the parking garage beneath the AFP building.
Join your fellow concerned citizens and Americans for Prosperity (AFP) and Libre to learn how to:
Sign up to speak at City Council meetings
Build effective testimony
Understand City Council meeting decorum
Learn the facts about the proposed GRT increase and its impact on Albuquerque families.
We cannot afford to sit this one out. AFP and Libre will equip, train, and empower you to confidently speak up before City Council decides whether this tax increase moves forward to the ballot.
The people who support this tax increase will be there. The question is: Will the people who will pay it be there too?
Please RSVP to Bobbi Curtis of AFP at 505-385-5565 if you plan to attend. You can reach her at:
We look forward to seeing you there!