Archive for November 11, 2008
First, Do No Harm (Part One)
by Chuck Ring (GadAbout-BlogAlot ©2008)
Quote Freely From The Article — Leave The Pseudonym Alone
This Is Part One Of A Two Part Article
“First, do no harm.” A phrase many believe to be a part of the Hippocratic Oath taken by physicians. Actually, it has been adopted by some in the medical field, particularly in emergency medical services, as a credo of sorts, but it is not in the Hippocratic Oath. Perhaps though, some of our elected representatives, whether state, county or local might consider adopting the same or similar sentiments as they go about passing legislation.
There is a history of the New Mexico State Legislature (legislature) passing statutes that allow counties to place taxation issues on a county wide referendum. It appears that such legislation has been passed as a result of strong lobbying by the Association Of Counties (AOC), larger municipalities within those counties and influential individuals. These referendums are allowed with seemingly little thought and certainly no thorough consideration by many of the involved parties as to the impact that such legislation has on small municipalities in counties where such legislation is allowed. That is, unless the consensus among legislators is that other entities are more important than small villages, towns and cities. In any case, it is unlikely that a small town can prevent the passing of a county wide referendum, no matter the effort or monies expended by its governing body and citizens.
Edgewood, New Mexico has experienced the impact of two such gross receipts tax referendums and the taking of taxes from Edgewood as a result, has served to dampen economic development, infrastructure development and citizen services for Edgewood citizens and area residents. By far the most egregious of taxes passed through an almost bilateral process by Santa Fe County and its partner, the City of Santa Fe (county and city), is the ¼ of one cent tax passed as Santa Fe County Ordinance 2002-5 or the Santa Fe County Capital Gross Receipts Tax. Posted below are some of the more telling portions of the ordinance. Notice how the county and city have crafted the ordinance so that benefits from the tax fall heavily on the county and city … not only in total money dedicated to them, but also in percentage of the overall proceeds: »» First, Do No Harm (Part One)