Rail Runner Tax Now Up to Voters
The Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to rejoin the North Central Regional Transit District. Now it’s up to the voters to approve a 0.125 percent gross receipts tax in November, with the money funding Rail Runner operations.
“Let’s educate the public and get this tax passed,” commissioner Mike Anaya said after the procession of “Yays” (and one abstention by commissioner Jack Sullivan).
Santa Fe County rejoins Los Alamos, and Rio Arriba County, area pueblos and other local jurisdictions in the NCRTD, which runs public transit service throughout northern New Mexico.
The commissioners voted 3-to-2 to secede on July 7, amid concerns over how the revenue generated by the tax increase would be shared.
Half of the money is to fund Rail Runner commuter train operations while the other half covers other transit needs. That latter half was initially to be split evenly between Santa Fe County and the rest of the NCRTD. Under the new resolution, 86 percent — rather than 50 percent — of that revenue stays with Santa Fe County to “provide connecting transportation to and from the Rail Runner within the County,” the resolution states, and to meet any other Santa Fe transit needs.
“The resolution is a nice compromise,” Sullivan said, “but it doesn’t solve management problems that still exist in the NCRTD.”
Sullivan was once a member on the NCRTD’s board. He expressed reservations over whether this resolution would be a wise use of taxpayer money, and noted the recent announcement by Rail Runner Express planners that a monthly pass on the train would cost about $100.
“One hundred dollars is too much for these trips,” Sullivan said. “Let’s let demand dictate the cost.”
Board Chairman Paul Campos said he’s “always been in favor of a separate RTD” for Santa Fe, but felt the new resolution was a fair compromise.
The Board’s approval was also contingent on Santa Fe County retaining the ability to withdraw from the transit district at a later date.
