Wednesday, July 23, 2008

County begins GRT vote process

If passed by voters, transport routes could link many to Rail Runner, college

Julia M. Dendinger News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jdendinger@news-bulletin.com

At a special meeting Monday morning, the Valencia County Commission unanimously approved the publication of an ordinance to put a regional transit system gross receipts tax question on the November ballot.

Publication of the proposed ordinance is just the first step in the process. Commissioner Ron Gentry reminded those in the audience that the commission's action did not enact the tax.

"After this, there will be public hearing on the ordinance. Then the commission will vote whether or not to approve the ordinance and put the question on the ballot," he said. If the question is placed on the ballot, it is then up to the voters as to whether it passes or fails.

The tax, if approved, would provide funding for the operation of the Rail Runner and for ground transit services for Bernalillo, Sandoval and Valencia counties.

Bruce Rizzieri, the regional transit manager for the Mid-Region Council of Governments, came before the commission to give it a brief overview of what services the one-eighth of 1 percent gross receipts tax would bring to the county.

In addition to the continued Rail Runner service, Rizzieri said the tax would help provide transit services to both the Los Lunas and Belen train stations.

The implementation timeline, which begins in fiscal year 2010, shows the current dial-a-ride program being expanded to include the general public in the first year of the plan, as well as service from Rio Communities to the Belen Rail Runner station, the University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus and businesses such as Avonite and Solo Cup along New Mexico 304.

Also in the first year, the plan calls for service from Jarales, Bosque and Pueblitos to Belen and the Rail Runner station.

In the second year, the plan shows the establishment of a new route on N.M. 6 west of I-25 to the Los Lunas Rail Runner station and a new route along N.M. 6 and N.M. 47 to the station and UNM-VC.

The resolution that was passed by the Rio Metro Transit District board of directors last Wednesday says that if a majority of the voters in the transit district favor the imposition of the tax, the revenue will be used in equal portions for the management, operations, capital, planning, construction or maintenance of the Rail runner and the regional transit district system.

If the tax question is approved in the Nov. 4 election, the tax will be imposed in July 2009 and the district expects to begin collecting revenues in October, Rizzieri said.

"This is a very detailed plan," Gentry said. "The time frame includes Valencia County from day one." Rizzieri said the final service and financial plan for the transit district would be available on the district's Web site at www.riometro.org.

"We will also be distributing hard copies to local libraries, community centers and county courthouses," he said.

Meadow Lake resident Bob Gostischa asked if there were any provisions in the plan for the county's eastern-most community. Rizzieri said residents could call 24 hours in advance to schedule a pick-up at their home and return trips.

"Is there a regular scheduled route?" Gostischa asked. Rizzieri said currently there is not.

"Right now there is a fixed route at the Valencia Y. If we get enough demand from Meadow Lake for a fixed route, we will put that in the plan," he said.

Another man in the audience asked how much taxes were expected to increase and how much revenue the district was hoping to receive. Commission Chair Pedro Rael pointed out that, since it was a gross receipts tax, "it will depend on how much you buy."

Rizzieri said the district is expecting to see $26 million per year collectively from the three counties in the transit district. He said he did not know the exact amount Valencia County is expected to generate.

Gentry noted that while Valencia County was a relatively "small player" compared to the other two counties in the district, he felt the county would get "very much the lion's share."

MRCOG executive director Lawrence Rael said that in looking at the region, Albuquerque would most likely generate most of the gross receipts taxes.

Because municipalities tend to live and die by their ability to increase and collect gross receipts taxes, Gentry said he was always cautious about asking for countywide tax impositions.

"You don't want to raise the GRT so high that the cities can't increase it for their specific needs," he said. "In this case, the district transit board has representation from the municipalities. This was a city as well as a county initiative."

Belen City Councilor Terese Ulvarri, Los Lunas Mayor Louis Huning and Bosque Farms Mayor Wayne Ake all serve on the transit district board as well as Commissioner Gentry. Ake is the chair of the transit district board of directors.

Commissioner Pedro Rael commented that he had attended several of the transit board meetings and there seemed to be overwhelming support. "I don't get a lot of e-mails, but I have been getting e-mails from people in Los Lunas and Belen who support this," he said.

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