New Mexico’s Nascent Tax Rebellion Continues ….dispatch from Los Alamos

When Santa Feans overwhelmingly voted down a costly soda tax, pundits questioned whether this might be the start of a trend in which New Mexicans take a more skeptical approach to taxes. It is hard to say for sure, but another data point has been added to the developing trend-line and the result (again) is “No New Taxes!”

Yesterday, voters in the National Lab-dominated enclave voted down a new recreation bond levy by a vote of 3,446 for to 3,932 against. At a price tag of $23 million, the proposed property  tax hike was just too much for a majority of property owners even though (as usual) the political establishment desperately wanted to raise taxes.

The Rio Grande Foundation was not involved in this particular tax battle, but it is another indicator that New Mexicans’, facing the nation’s highest unemployment rate do not see tax hikes as a good option at this time. The Rio Grande Foundation IS involved in efforts to educate Albuquerque voters about a proposed gas tax increase which will be voted on June 5. That tax hike would go to the voters if it is approved by City Council and the Mayor.