SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 58

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Leonard Tsosie

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO STUDY THE FISCAL IMPACT OF REDEFINING COUNTY LINES TO PLACE ALL OF THE JICARILLA APACHE RESERVATION LANDS WITHIN SANDOVAL COUNTY OR TO CREATE A NEW COUNTY.

     WHEREAS, a portion of the lands comprising the Jicarilla Apache reservation is now located within the boundaries of Rio Arriba county and another portion is located within the boundaries of Sandoval county; and

     WHEREAS, the coordination of services provided by county governments with services provided by the Jicarilla Apache Nation on its reservation might be simpler and more cost effective if all of the reservation lands were located within Sandoval county or a new county; and

     WHEREAS, county government might be more responsive to the needs of the residents of the Jicarilla Apache reservation if all the reservation lands were located within a single county; and

     WHEREAS, evaluation of the effects of realigning county boundaries to include all of the Jicarilla Apache reservation within Sandoval county or within a new county should include identifying the revenue each county derives from the Jicarilla Apache reservation and the expenditures of each county on the Jicarilla Apache reservation; and

     WHEREAS, evaluation of the effects of creating a new county should include identifying the revenue available to a new county to provide county services;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of finance and administration be requested to evaluate the potential costs and benefits of redefining county lines to place all Jicarilla Apache reservation lands within Sandoval county or to create a new county; to identify revenues derived by Rio Arriba county and Sandoval county from the Jicarilla Apache reservation, including tax revenues, payments in lieu of taxes and state and federal grants and program funds, including impact aid; and to quantify expenditures by Rio Arriba county and Sandoval county for providing services on the Jicarilla Apache reservation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department report its findings to the interim Indian affairs committee and any other appropriate interim committee by September 1, 2006; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of finance and administration and the county managers of Sandoval and Rio Arriba counties.

- 3 -