Proposed tax hike receives opposition
Recently, signs opposing that tax hike have popped up throughout Las Cruces.
The South Central Regional Transit Project Manager, Jack Valencia, says the services are desperately needed.
Latshia Boswell, a frequent rider, agrees.
“I don’t know how I’d get from point A to point B,” Boswell said.
The free pilot program ,which launched in June,
stops in underserved communities in the county and connects users where they need to go.
In order to keep the program going however, the program needs money. A suggested increase in the gross receipts tax will help fund the services. The proposal will appear on November’s ballot. The tax, which is like a sales tax, also includes many services and is currently near 8 percent.
It would provide more than 9 million dollars in funding by adding a quarter of a cent to the tax on every dollar of every transaction in Dona Ana County.
“Which would increase the number of hours, routes, and initiate Sunday service,” Valencia said.
Recently, however, a group called ‘Move Forward New Mexico, took to the streets to display their lack of approval, with signs that read ‘Vote no on the County GRT Tax.’
Valencia says without the funds the needed, the program is in jeopardy.
“This program would be in significant jeopardy for the fact that there is no immediate funding source in order to maintain it as it moves into the future,” Valencia said.
Abc7 contacted ‘Move Forward New Mexico’ but did not respond to a request for comment on the signs.
