Editorial by Mary Alice Murphy

The ordinance was not a surprise to this reporter.

I guess the first lesson in whether you knew about this issue or not is whether you pay attention to the local news in the local news outlets, print or online, all of which reported and/or posted a notice and agenda of the upcoming meeting.

Yes, I knew about the plan to raise gross receipts tax. I attend the Grant County Commission work sessions and regular sessions, with only a few missed throughout the year. And I try to catch up on those. Last month, the commissioners approved a notice of intent to pass the 3/8 gross receipts tax.

As I've often said to people who ask how I gather such comprehensive notes: "I hear what is being said and it comes out through my fingers." So if you ask me after a meeting what happened, I'll usually say: "Read my article after I get it written."

Writing an article is when I get my insights on what actually happened in the meeting. Sometimes I have to make phone calls to get clarifications about items I jotted down in my notes, but didn't realize the import or impact of what was being said.

If you are a regular reader of the Beat, and I hope you are, I've been hearing and reporting on discussions about how the county would pay for the needed renovation to the Business and Conference Center. I've also often heard Commission Chairman Brett Kasten complain that the federal payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILT) should be reserved for non-recurring capital expenses, because it was so iffy.

For years, I've been hearing the frustration of commissioners after once again not getting capital outlay funding to upgrade the electrical system, as well as the heating, ventilation and air conditioning at the County Courthouse.

Another frequent topic, especially by Commissioner Ron Hall is his recognition and participation in the Continuum of Care, which has been trying to address the substance abuse problem in the area with a much-needed treatment center. Again, where can one find funding, for a critical need?

Much discussion on economic development has been held over the more than a dozen years I've been covering the business and economic development beat. But little action or implementation has come from those frequent discussions.

Grant County took action when it commissioned a Master Plan for Economic Development, which was created by Angelou Economics in 2012. To read the plan go to: http://www.angeloueconomics.com/grantcounty/documents/Grant%20County%20FINAL%20Recommendations.pdf

Some things on the plan have been pursued and reports written on the topics, and some are still lacking in action or implementation.

Grant County took a chance and purchased the old Walmart building, as it lay vacant, after use by two call centers that didn't stay. It fairly quickly had a lease on a portion by Ace Hardware, which has done so well it wants to expand into more of the center.

Commissioners recently took the media and other interested individuals into the center and Kasten gave his vision of how the center could be reconfigured and better used for various conferences and meetings. Nothing was written in stone, but a review of what was talked about can be read here: http://www.grantcountybeat.com/index.php/news/news-articles/16510-grant-county-commissioners-tour-business-and-conference-center

Kasten, during that tour, dropped a hint about "chasing money." Council of Governments Executive Director Priscilla Lucero said the county could probably access renewable energy incentives. The Southwest New Mexico Green Chamber and PNM, at last Thursday's regular meeting, presented to the county an award for outdoor lighting efficiency at the Business and Conference Center. That's an indication of thinking smart on the part of the Commission, and shows a likeliness to continue that path to save the county and the taxpayers money through using renewable resources in its ongoing efforts.

If you don't know the history of the center's renovation, the U.S. Economic Development Administration funded the exterior of the center and parking lot and "promised" future funding for the interior renovation. We all know that the feds are broke, and when the exterior was completed—"Sorry, we don't have any more funding for the interior." Dilemma No. 1- how does the county renovate the interior for economic development?

And the history of the County Courthouse is even longer. Every year, the item is a top priority of the county in its Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan, which is required by the Legislature in order to fund anything. Once in a while a token amount comes from capital outlay to do a small portion of work in the building, but never enough to redo the electrical system, which, with its screw-in fuses, is dangerous, nor enough to upgrade heating, ventilation and air-conditioning. Ever been in the courtroom on a hot day?

Yes, the county received some funding to fix the crumbling front walkway into the building, but not enough to complete the project. The leftover funding in a first bond issue will complete that project.

Last, but not in priority, is a substance abuse treatment facility. Many entities are working on the issue of substance abuse, from the DWI Program to the Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Program to the long-standing Continuum of Care Coalition. You can't say this community does not address its issues. Addressing the issue of substance abuse in our county was of high priority for most of those who took the 2012 Grant County Community Health Council assessment survey.

This treatment is of particular importance in the realm of economic development, because companies and small businesses, for as many years as I've been covering the news, always complain about the work force. A main problem with the work force is that many job applicants cannot pass a drug test. If a person were to seek and receive successful treatment locally, those individuals put together could make a significant positive impact in the work force and, when they are earning a good paycheck, a positive impact in their families and communities.

I personally think the Grant County Commission, even though it may lose its hold harmless funding, stands a better chance, by grabbing an opportunity, to bring positive economic development, health and safety impacts to the county by imposing this 3/8 of 1 percent gross receipts tax.

Yes, we the tax payers will pay an extra three-eighths of a cent, just a wee bit more than one-third of a cent on every one dollar purchase, but won't you feel good when you see a reviving work force, more conferences and tourism, a safe courthouse, and the extra gross receipts taxes that come into the county coffers to pay for future capital improvements in your home county, such as fixing roads?