Santa Fe County Residents May Vote on Fire Tax

Santa Fe County residents may soon be asked to vote on a tax increase that would raise cash for county Fire Department expenses.

The Santa Fe County Commission got the ball rolling Tuesday when it agreed to hold a public hearing and vote later this month on an ordinance adopting the tax. If approved by commissioners, a popular election will be held later this year.

Several commissioners expressed support for the proposal, which would put in place a quarter-cent gross receipts tax increase for fire equipment, vehicles, buildings and other needs. State law mandates the revenue cannot be used for salaries or benefits.

“I totally support this. I can’t think of a better purpose for our taxpayers’ money, particularly at a time when we’re in the throes of so much fire danger,” Commissioner Virginia Vigil said.

The tax would apply to anybody “engaging in business in the county area outside of the boundaries of any incorporated municipality,” according to the draft ordinance under consideration.

The fire protection excise tax has been around since the mid-1980s, though in a cycle of expiration and public renewal. It last expired in December 2008.

In 2009, Santa Fe residents soundly defeated a proposal to again implement the tax. In the election, only about five percent of 37,000 county voters eligible to cast ballots did so.

Opponents – the highest profile of whom was the Republican Party of Santa Fe County – argued that it was unfair to place the burden on local taxpayers. While not disputing the fire department’s needs, they said the county should find ways to fund the department’s needs using existing resources.

County Fire Chief David Sperling told commissioners Tuesday that, once the department’s basic needs are taken care of, there isn’t much money left over to pay for new capital needs. He estimated the tax would bring in around $1.24 million annually.

If the tax is approved, it probably won’t have to come back to voters again anytime soon. Legislation passed by the state a few years ago essentially eliminated expiration dates for fire taxes.