Proposed Doa Ana County tax hike opposition

Residents will begin to decide on that tax question as early as next Tuesday, when early voting begins.

The increase would add 2.5 cents for every ten dollars purchased. This applies to all goods and services.
Many senior citizens in Las Cruces, including retiree David Gonzales, say they feel “taxed out.”

“As it is, even going to an expensive grocery store, you’re just making ends meet as it is,” Gonzales said.

David Gonzales lives on a fixed income. During his spare time, he enjoys lunch with friends at the East Side Senior Community Center in Las Cruces. The thought of paying more for any purchases concerns him. He does not agree with funding the newly launched bus service.

“The utilities are going, increases on those happening, also at the same time. To me it’s common sense, it’s not the right time,” Gonzales said.

The South Central Regional Transit service provides transportation to rural areas in the county. To keep the program alive, it needs taxpayer support. The funding would come from an increase in the gross receipts tax, with the hope of generating more than 9 million dollars to fund it for a year.

William Connor, the leader of the opposition movement, Move Forward New Mexico, says transportation is already in place, why add more?

“We already have a bus system that is traveling up and down the valley and i think they’re trying to broaden that out, but is there a need to broaden that particular bus system out,” Connor said.

Supporters of the tax, however, say under served areas of the county are not getting transportation they need.