SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 66

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Joseph J. Carraro

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING VARIOUS STATE AGENCIES TO STUDY THE ISSUES RELATED TO INCORPORATING A CITY ON THE WEST SIDE OF ALBUQUERQUE.

     WHEREAS, residents of the city of Albuquerque and those portions of unincorporated Bernalillo county who live in what is generally known as the "west side" of Albuquerque have expressed an overwhelming desire to incorporate into a city separate from Albuquerque so that they might enjoy self-governance and self-determination; and

     WHEREAS, those residents also seek to provide themselves with better public services and infrastructure, such as transportation systems and public safety programs; and

     WHEREAS, the strong public demand to allow the residents on the west side of Albuquerque to consider forming their own city will mean that the issue will be debated during the 2005 legislative session;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of finance and administration, the taxation and revenue department, the bureau of business and economic research of the university of New Mexico and the legislative finance committee be requested to separately examine the various issues within their respective areas of jurisdiction and expertise surrounding incorporation of a city on the west side of Albuquerque, including areas currently within Albuquerque, and that each prepare a report by October 1, 2004 for the use of the first session of the forty-seventh legislature on their findings, including the methods available to effectuate self-governance, the logistics of equitably dividing assets and liabilities and other issues relevant to the legislature's consideration of allowing west side residents to determine their own destiny; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretaries of finance and administration and taxation and revenue, the director of the legislative finance committee and the director of the bureau of business and economic research at the university of New Mexico.

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