HOUSE MEMORIAL 57

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

James E. Smith

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE APPROPRIATE LEGISLATIVE INTERIM COMMITTEE TO

EXPLORE OPTIONS ON HOW BEST TO COORDINATE FLOOD CONTROL INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES IN EASTERN SANDOVAL COUNTY.

     WHEREAS, in 2007, the eastern Sandoval county arroyo flood control authority was created to address flooding concerns in the communities of Algodones, Bernalillo and Placitas; and

     WHEREAS, directors of the authority were appointed, and the authority began the process of identifying flood control infrastructure needs; and

     WHEREAS, well over one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in flood control projects have been identified by the authority; and

     WHEREAS, in 2008, the authority imposed property taxes at the rate of approximately three and four hundred forty-five thousandths mills on the property within the authority and yet raised only three million dollars ($3,000,000) in revenue; and

     WHEREAS, the sharp increase in property tax rates caused considerable hardship and concern among taxpayers in the authority, and yet the revenue from that tax increase is still grossly insufficient for the purposes of flood control infrastructure; and

     WHEREAS, it has become clear that flood control cannot be accomplished in eastern Sandoval county without the cooperation and financial partnership of Sandoval county, the town of Bernalillo, the Middle Rio Grande conservancy district and the federal government; and

     WHEREAS, in the current challenging economic climate, the authority has not been able to secure financial commitments or cooperation from, or form partnerships with, the other local governments or the federal government; and

     WHEREAS, the systemic concerns that have come to light regarding the viability of the authority, its governance and whether there is a sufficient property tax base in the authority to realistically support infrastructure and flood control projects require additional study;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the appropriate interim legislative committee be requested to explore options on how best to resolve the conflicts and concerns that have arisen regarding the eastern Sandoval county arroyo flood control authority and how best to equitably address flood control issues in eastern Sandoval county; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee seek testimony

from Sandoval county, the town of Bernalillo, the communities of Algodones and Placitas, the Middle Rio Grande conservancy district and other interested parties and report its findings to the second session of the fiftieth legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the board of directors of the eastern Sandoval county arroyo flood control authority, the board of county commissioners of Sandoval county, the Bernalillo town council and the Middle Rio Grande conservancy district.

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