Annexation: Town Swallows County GRT

Town to Snatch GRT

More Bleeding

Greedheads

On Wednesday night, Feb. 6 at 5:30 pm, a number of local residents concerned about plans at the Town of Taos to annex outlying communities and snatch up gross receipts tax revenue will attend the town’s Planning and Zoning meeting at the downtown Civic Center. The Town plans on creating a long dogleg left, following Highway 64 north to the Blinking Light and west to the airport. A town official says the town needs the land and money for airport expansion, costing $24 million. Though the town’s share is only $1.2 million, they say they haven’t got it–though they do have money for the so-called Command Center.

Who thinks we need a $24 million cross-wind runway? For what? Julia doesn’t live here anymore.

If the annexation is consummated the County will lose about $200,000 a year.

The Town of Taos is following a historical pattern, a pattern beginning (mas o menos) in 1980. Then the town fathers began to gobble up all the county’s  commercial property along Paseo del Pueblo Sur (South Santa Fe Road) right up to and including the Sagebrush Inn. But the town knows better than to try and drop down the hill into Ranchos.

So they have turned their hungry eyes north: seize El Prado, the Blinking Light, and turn west toward the sunset, gobble up this or that lonely business along the highway corridor until said airport is in the town limits—sort of.

(After the 1965—66 mayor and council used eminent domain to take private property for the airport– by conquest–they all lost their jobs in the next election.)

Slick Gus Cordova, Town Manager, and Fast Fred Peralta, Mayor, tried this once before in 2002. But  the council–Bobby, Meliton, Erlinda, and Frank– wouldn’t buy. See excerpts below from a 2002 Horse Fly story about annexation and a couple of letters.

Horse Fly, September 15, 2002

Flashback

“On July 25, Fast Fred and Slick Gus, the town manager, popped up and dropped a dozen eggs, called “annexation,” on the town council’s plate. The council called the plan, “aggressive.” The mayor said the town could act unilaterally. The manager said the town needed to develop a master plan—control the “urban sprawl.” Slick had his eye on the gross receipts and 3.2 mills in property taxes. The pert planner, Sarah Backus, noted that “we only have to provide services in a reasonable time.”

“So the mayor and manager had the angles all figured except for the town council, who all but rejected Fred’s uncooked eggs. Smilin’ Bobby said, “We can give ’em an option,” but “I won’t vote for it if the majority object.” Our Lady of the Council, Erlinda Gonzales, asked, “What are the areas with problems, and what about a cost analysis?” The Curmudgeon, Councilman Cruz noted that residents wouldn’t like town codes, which limit the numbers of cars and livestock or the accumulation of junk on private property—not to mention the problem of water rights and wells. Cruz, a former banker, said, “I don’t want to see the city go into debt.”

“Fast Fred and Slick Gus promised to provide a five-year budget for costs, personnel, and equipment and said they “would put everything on the table” at August meetings. But the August 13 workshop and August 20 regular meeting came and went. Information and analysis about annexation was as scarce as summer rain.

“In addition, at the August 13 meeting, citizens who had been working on revisions to the Town’s Land Use Development Code confronted Fast ‘n Slick. Bob Tenorio, P&Z Chair; local architect and historian, Gene Sanchez; and subdivision-developer and attorney Scott Sanger asked the town council to hire a “long range planner” because of a “vacuum” in the planning department. The land use committee backed up its request with a variety of documented planning criteria.

Peralta said that the town might find funds for a “one year contract,” but said “I don’t have funds for one (a recurring position) in an ongoing budget. ” Fred also said the idea of a long-range planner might be considered if the town council approved annexation.

When Sanchez asked about the millions of dollars in reserve and the town’s massive budget, Slick said,“Come into my office and I’ll explain it to you when we have more time.” Despite the appearance of civility, reinforced by the language of public relations, there was a mote in Fred’s eye. Somehow they didn’t know that he knew more than any planner.

Guest Editorial (9.15.2002)
“Let the Voters Decide”
(Name withheld)

When community members learned of the Town of Taos’ desire to annex a number of areas, many questions arose. For example, why Blueberry Hill, Chamisa Road, Este Es Road, El Prado, Cañon, and Weimer Foothills? Why the Las Haciendas Subdivision and the area around the Mabel Dodge Luhan House? What do these areas offer the town?
For purposes of simplification, this editorial will focus on one of the intended target communities—El Prado.

El Prado is a unique mixture of agricultural, residential, and commercial property. Its riches lie in the high number of water rights, the community-organized El Prado Water and Sanitation District, the opportunity to obtain monies, and all the wonderful people who live in El Prado.

My reaction to the proposed annexation, however, goes beyond mere curiosity. It is one of irritation and anger. Town Manager Gus Cordova said that all it takes is a hearing by a three-member state Municipal Boundary Commission to make annexation a reality. The mayor said that the town has to aggressively take us over. How dare the mayor and town manager think that the residents don’t count! This is the height of political arrogance and power.

I decided to hang around the El Prado Post Office and visit with my neighbors over a period of a few days to find out how they felt.

One man said, “Right now, their power seems to end at the city limits. If and when their power base extends, we’ll be able to vote in city elections. This will give us a chance to vote them out, if they shove annexation down our throat.”

Another resident asked, “Will the city government add more seats to the council so that we’ll be represented?” (Taxation without representation?)

“Once we become part of the town, we’re at the mercy of their standards,” said another. “We’ll pay whatever the town says for water. We’ll do whatever Town of Taos officials want us to do.”

Another person added, “Well, they’re certainly not doing it for free.”

“Maybe they’ll pay off our debt,” said an optimist. “What is it now—about five million or so? Does that mean we’ll get out of interest payments?” We voted to tax ourselves because we needed it. Now what? Will it work in our favor or will we have even more debt?”

Someone asked, “Won’t we have to pay city taxes? I wonder what we’d get for that money? But should we have to pay the extra taxes plus the El Prado Water and Sanitation Assessments?”

No one knew the answers to these questions. El Prado residents unofficially view the El Prado Water and Sanitation Districts as its governing entity. “Tele (Gonzales) and the board should call a community meeting to see what we what,” was a common sentiment. “Heck, the government will do what ever it pleases with us. Look what they want to do to our plaza. They’re trying to take it from us without giving us a voice.”

A history buff compared proposed annexation to territorial days when the Americans took over the area without anyone’s consent. Most residents said they should determine their own fate in the voting booth.

What can the Town of Taos give us? If those of us who have wells must give them up, what else will we receive besides a big water bill? Are the well drilling bills that we paid a waste of money? Will we lose he agricultural character of our community and remain limited to “one chicken per acre?”

If the recent antics at the Solomon Lane (off Placitas Road) are any indication, then I shudder. The Town of Taos Water Department began a routine water-replacement job at this site on July 25. Then, the crew was called off to emergency work after cutting cable T.V. and phone lines and leaving an open ditch. The employees returned July 30 to complete the job. Granted, the employees have much work to do. Will an additional workload tax them further? Will the town be able to handle us?

We must take a long breath and forget about aggressiveness. The citizens of El Prado are a wonderful people. Take the plight to them. Before the citizens meet and vote for or against annexation, town officials must let residents know what’s in it for them.

Editor:

The Town of Taos Planning Department is asking for a $62,000 salary for a Long Range Planner position? Goodness! Don’t they realize they’ve gotten two such planners for that position already and at NO COST? In fact, both gentlemen are already aboard, trained, and familiar with the territory. Messrs. Peralta and Cordova. In fact, these bright lights don’t really need the Planning Department.

Always amazed,
Catherine Naylor
Sort of safe in the county for now.