IT MAY COST YOU MORE TO SHOP IN ALBUQUERQUE STARTING LATER THIS YEAR. ON MONDAY NIGHT, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON A PROPOSAL TO HIKE THE GROSS RECEIPTS TAX BY THREE-EIGHTHS OF A CENT PER DOLLAR.
KEN SANCHEZ IS A CO-SPONSOR OF THE BILL…AND SAYS A-P-D WILL GET MUCH OF THE 55 MILLION DOLLARS THE TAX INCREASE WILL GENERATE EVERY YEAR. SANCHEZ SAYS OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THE CITY’S FIRST PRIORITY. HE SAYS IT’S BECAUSE IT’S ONE WAY TO HAVE A PROSPEROUS CITY.
OPPONENTS OF THE TAX HIKE SAY THERE’S NO GUARANTEE THE EXTRA FUNDS WOULD GO TOWARD PUBLIC SAFETY. THEY ALSO DON’T LIKE THE IDEA THAT VOTERS WON’T BE ABLE TO DECIDE THE ISSUE. IF THE COUNCIL OKAYS THE INCREASE, IT WOULD LIKELY GO INTO EFFECT IN JULY.
