By Roger Lanse

The Silver City Town Council at its March 24 meeting approved a gross receipts tax of 0.25 percent, which when added to the present gross receipts tax of 7.7500 percent will bring the total to 8 percent. Imposition of the tax is scheduled to begin July 1, 2015.

Mayor Michael Morones and the four council members all support the tax for a number of reasons. Morones mentioned the three-month to one-year delay in reimbursement from approved grants for projects already paid for by the town. He also stated that the extra tax is worth keeping the library and the museum for our kids' sake, and that business owners have told him the town needs to maintain the present service level to keep the town viable.

Town Manager Alex Brown said that the new tax will be shared, not only by Silver City residents, but by residents in the county and southwest New Mexico, and by tourists.

District 1 Councilor Cynthia Bettison stated that of those constituents who have talked with her, those in favor of the tax outnumber those against it 10 to one. She said that the tax is needed to continue to provide the level of services the town has supplied all these years.

District 2 Councilor Lynda Aiman-Smith also said that of the 12-14 people that have talked to her, all were in support of the tax to keep present services.

District 3 Councilor Jose Ray Jr. stated that residents need the town's services, and not only the town's residents, but also for the entire county.

Guadalupe Cano, District 4 Councilor, said that the new tax is the "most minimum tax possible to keep the town's services."

Resident Bill Ortiz spoke to the council saying that taxpayers and he are annoyed at how tax revenues are appropriated and that elected officials must represent their constituents. He called for better solutions and said if there is less money to spend then good choices must be made. "I must manage - so should government," Ortiz said. "It's time to listen to the taxpayers' pockets. A 'no' vote would be appreciated on the tax hike."

Resident Art Martinez spoke passionately to the council and asked, "Where are the people?" referring to the almost empty council chambers. Rumor has it that more taxes are coming - and they probably are, he said. Martinez urged the council, in the absence of not approving the ordinance, to, at least, adopt a sunset clause for the tax in 5-10 years. "Why not?" he asked.

Martinez offered two suggestions to the council as alternatives to raising more cash. One was to lobby for a larger share of Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILT payments, and the second was to ask for a larger share of what the state receives in taxes from the mining industry.

Bettison interjected that a sunset clause cannot be added to this ordinance but the tax can be suspended at any time if council decides we don't need it any longer. However, she said: "I don't see us stopping the tax."

Morones explained that perhaps the town should have depended less on the state, which has now taken away funds it depends on. The state, Morones said, has actually raised taxes by eliminating "hold harmless" payments to municipalities and counties. "The state didn't raise taxes, but caused us to raise them."

A reporter from the Grant County Beat asked if the town leaders had looked at all the town's services, staff, and projects and concluded that there was nowhere that cuts could be made to achieve fiscal balance? Morones answered that council members and staff heavily discussed this and looked at everything for the last several years, but mentioned no cuts specific to the fiscal issues that precipitated the new tax.

Morones continued, stating that staff is stressed and pressured because of mounting workloads and that the town is in danger of losing staff because of the pressure they are under.

Residents Alan Mong and Cissy McAndrew spoke in support of the tax.

Morones proclaimed the month of April as Fair Housing Month, April 1 as Start by Believing Day to raise awareness of victims of sexual violence, and April 10-12 as Continental Divide Trail Trail Days.

Bettison questioned Town Attorney Robert Scavron on the question of peddling wares in town.

Scavron said that those wishing to peddle must complete an application and be issued a license before they can legally peddle anything. He said licensed peddlers could enter a business to peddle unless the storeowner has a sign at the entrance to the store prohibiting such activity, or if no sign is present, the peddler has to leave if the owner asks him to. To refuse to leave is trespassing, he said. A peddler's license gives peddlers no authority to go on private property, according to Scavron, because the license states, "You are not to enter upon nonbusiness private property."

Scavron continued, saying if a peddler knocks on your door and you answer and tell them to leave and they don't-call the police. There are exceptions to the law, he said, to recognize worthwhile organizations such as the Girl Scouts, Red Cross, and other fundraising or charitable groups.

Brown reported that the grand opening for the Disability Resource Center located next to the Recreation Center on 10th Street would be held in April. The Center will assist those with physical and mental disabilities.

The town has accepted a bid by Deming Excavation to complete Americans with Disability Act improvements and street upgrades on a portion of Silver Street from Pines Street to Lamb Street. The low bid was $326,640.52 for the base bid plus gross receipts tax and alternate #1. The town's match for the project is $78,000, according to Brown. However, Brown said, the town has received a Colonias Infrastructure Grant in January totaling $489,623. Because the project cost is less than the grant, the town will request an increase in project area and if approved will use the $162,982.48 extra to increase the project area by two blocks.

In a final action, the council approved changing the regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, to Thursday, April 23, at 6 p.m. at the Grant County Administration Center.