"Together for a Better Grant County" Ballot officially underway

Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 02 August 2013 02 August 2013

Grant County Residents set to vote on ¼ of 1 percent Gross Receipts Tax Increase
 
SILVER CITY, NM, 8-2-13 – Grant County Residents will soon receive a ballot in the mail allowing them to vote on a proposed ¼ of 1 percent Gross Receipts Tax Increase on tangible goods sales, not including food and medical services.  Should the proposed increase pass, a $10 million bond will be allocated across Grant County in order to fund five community enhancement projects.
 
Between the Town of Silver City, Grant County and Western New Mexico University, officials have brainstormed ways to fund each individual project for some time: completing renovations to the Grant County Veterans’ Memorial Business and Conference Center; expanding and restoring the WNMU swimming pool, as well as constructing a second indoor pool for community use; improving the Bataan Park baseball field and bringing back WNMU’s baseball program; improvements at the Silver City golf course; and building a multiplex movie theater.

 
“While each individual project can be debated, it is the whole package that is appealing,” explained WNMU President Joe Shepard.  “This proposal offers us an opportunity to have a positive impact on our community and boost the quality of life for all residents of Grant County.”
 
As well as adding several inches to the existing WNMU swimming pool to make it comply with NCAA standards, a second facility will be maintained at a slightly warmer temperature, ideal for recreational and family use. Improvements made to the baseball field at the Bataan Memorial Park will not only help revitalize the baseball program at Western but also bring recreational opportunities to the mining district.
 
Recognizing a growing trend in traveling to places such as Deming and Las Cruces in order to simply watch a movie, eat a meal or play golf, Town of Silver City Manager Alex Brown believes strongly in voting the proposal through.  “These projects are about providing infrastructure for people who are already here and for people who may come here,” Brown explained.  “By offering people more to do, we can keep the dollars in Grant County, allowing us to provide more services and a better quality of life for everyone.”  After a successful summer golf camp provided opportunities for children from all income brackets, it is hoped that new golf course cart paths and other improvements will not only attract tourists and future residents hoping to relocate here, but also local golfers from all backgrounds seeking a true community golf course environment.
 
While many people look to come to Grant County to work, study or retire, some choose not to move due to the lack of entertainment opportunities.  Since money is often the deciding factor in whether these opportunities are developed or enhanced, Grant County Manager Jon Saari believes the ¼ of 1 percent tax increase will help Grant County to help itself.  “We need to stop money leaving Grant County and each of these projects will help us do that,” commented Saari.  “By generating additional revenue, we can complete projects for and by ourselves.”
 
Should the proposal pass, the tax increase will not come into effect until January 1st 2014.  Costing $1 for every $400 spent, it is hoped that Grant County residents see the advantages in the completion of each project and vote the proposed changes through.  For more information regarding the proposed changes and benefits, visit www.abettergrantcounty.com

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.