County Checks and Balances: The Town’s Cash Crunch
Fortunately, the ballot is still a secret. Unlike the recent Town elections, where the issues were critical, I don’t see a trend or a threat to local county government in the upcoming elections. Some candidates have a record of public service and superior qualifications while others possess a record of poor public service and seem under-qualified. Some are newcomers. I have confidence in the voters.
Due to long time loyalties and past support, I cannot be objective in making public declarations when it comes to County candidates, though personally I am eligible and will vote for Virgil, Judge Betty, Bobbi DeHerrera, and Judge Ernie— those who have demonstrable records in support of the community. If you have questions, buttonhole the candidates.
At the Town we were desperate for change and we were lucky enough to elect three solid candidates. In the County we need competent elected officials, who also have the experience to understand the political nature of complex human relations that affect the community as a whole. Political savvy is as important as experience and qualifications. A little wisdom helps. We need checks and balances in County government, law enforcement, and the judicial system.
Town Cash Crunch
Recent announcements from the Town of Taos regarding the millions of dollars needed for “deferred maintenance” regarding the Youth and Family Center as well as the general infrastructure—streets, sidewalks, water and sewer, buildings, wells—should come as no surprise. Though memories in the community are short and partisans prefer to operate under the “Ostrich Syndrome” i.e. burying one’s head in the sand, we should remind ourselves that ignoring the procurement code leads to corrupt practices and poor construction. You get what you pay for.
Professional service contracts for architectural design re: the Youth and Family Center were segmented in order to avoid triggering public RFPs (Requests for Proposals). Basically, the procurement code was illegally and/or unethically circumvented at the Youth and Family Center during prior administrations. In its most egregious movida, as I remember, the Town never issued a RFP for the construction of the swimming pool. The shoddy construction, refusal to enforce a warranty, and ongoing expenses mean the taxpayers must pay for procurement code violations. (The above was sorted out in great detail at Horse Fly, lo’ these many years ago.)
Segmenting or dividing up professional contracts for engineering say, so the contracts fall below the $50,000 trigger level or segmenting and dividing up construction contracts so they fall below the $10,000 RFP requirement so officials can avoid public disclosure have become common practice at the Town, according to town sources. It all smacks of the “contracts for cuates” program.
In addition the accelerated practice of using “sole source” or non-competitive contracts has contributed to a culture of non-compliance at the Town. We understand that circumstances create the need for emergency purchases from sole-source or customary vendors. But when Town Hall department heads can make side deals with their favorite vendors or run around town with their Town charge cards, the taxpayer wonders.
The Town has purportedly leased public property on Civic Plaza Drive like Don Fernando Hall, Rio Grande Hall, and Bataan Hall to private and public entities, reportedly, on favorable terms for the leasees. Meanwhile the Town itself has leased property from the Coop and the Catholic Church while paying, reportedly, top dollar. But where are the “appraisals” of the property and what is the market value?
The community should be confident in the new direction of the Town re: the Barrone administration. At a joint Town-County meeting this Thursday, April 10, citizens should see some of the negative policies of the past corrected and cooperation extended, we hope, between the Town and County at the Command Center and Airport. But what about the revenue needed to fix the Youth and Family Center and upgrade the general infrastructure?
If we all pull together and institute a proper marketing program we can increase GRT income, based on the tourism and the hospitality trade. Certainly, by reducing expenses and increasing efficiencies the Town can manage a bare bones operation. But the spendthrift policies from the past and the culture of violating the procurement code will probably mean higher taxes. Parking meter fines are not enough to pay for fixing the streets.
Despite a history of budget breaking and eccentric behavior by commissioners, the County eventually righted itself and put its fiscal house in order, thanks to a team effort and efforts by County employees during the last decade. Indeed, the voters supported the passage of the bonds for the Complex, based as much on Commissioner Barrone, his fellow commissioners, and elected officials as they did on the need. The risk paid off. We have modern county government and a modern complex. Let’s hope stable government at the County continues.
As Mayor/Commissioner Barrone has often said, “We brought the Complex in on time and under budget. Nobody went to jail.” Now Mayor Barrone has a similar challenge in front of him at the Town and two Town Councilors, Judi Cantu and Fritz Hahn, who support honest government. The challenges at Town Hall will require patience and prudence on the part of leaders and the community. Though it might take five or ten years to right the ship, there are rewards for both employees and the citizens when local government becomes responsible to the public it serves.
In a side note I highly recommend returning to Juma’s barbershop now under the direction of young Jason Montano, who has picked up the clippers at Raoul’s Barber Shop of Love in El Prado. Jason is a friendly guy and the legendary Chicano’s chosen successor. Be well my friends, we’ve got a new barber.