[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6671423,"mediaKeyId","2160364-e1975e026649730a1ef8dabf78ee84d3","parentId",2160364,"title","Council adopts tax-rebate extension, approves DWI grant application and revises library policy; accepts FY2024 audit","audioSeconds",1029,"startMs",2327000,"endMs",3356000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2160364-e1975e026649730a1ef8dabf78ee84d3&start=2327&end=3356","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2160364-e1975e026649730a1ef8dabf78ee84d3/thumbnail_2327000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6671423/New-Mexico/Council-adopts-tax-rebate-extension-approves-DWI-grant-application-and-revises-library-policy-accepts-FY2024-audit","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671423-e6f421f22e78ba9346f5a195b3a4d6dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180168&Signature=T9iGzPzQWd6OjuT0GC~5vY7SmMDk6j2IMpI5ahDwoMVCHCwRSjPWCrztcqkCNfkBPfmvTnmvo2p9yv2Hm7yhbo5JJCM6J2qqgsXjACR9EpzH9dYVp8F8qX39CvM2HMED4C9sy2aN-2Gg2CBVt~Y8nLeo8l63rXxR8xNXBBhdCJj~wewOh~fUU0eSn7y~ket9eGQDtU7YqHxxobeA51OlPvAI44e1ADjb2Qk7qILt7XYe7LjUEX303uNmUz2YN84INgaW~V9d0req2hZCBDko5ClOCD4JelhplOCPnYIK5gcEwfo5MwRJ3D3qafgpyBc2Mb07MmfxS6tuxCg-PXjLFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Los Alamos County","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","Los Alamos County Council on Jan. 28 approved a package of ordinances, resolutions and administrative items, voting unanimously on multiple measures after presentations by county staff and outside auditors.

The council voted to continue participation in New Mexico\u0000\u0000\u0000state\u0000\u0000\u0000tax-rebate program for eligible low-income county property taxpayers for taxable years 2025\u0000\u0000through 2028 by adopting ordinance number 737. Melissa Dasey, presenting the program background, told the council that the county first joined the program in 2001 and that rebate claims for FY2024 totaled $12,178. Dasey said the county would be responsible to reimburse the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department for any rebates paid under the program. The council passed the ordinance by roll call, 7-0.

The council also approved Resolution 25-02 authorizing submission of an application to the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (Local Government Division) to participate in the Local DWI (LDWI) Grant and Distribution Program. Sarah Martinez, the county DWI coordinator, described the grant request and distribution: the county could receive distribution funds of about $88,356 and staff planned to request roughly $52,000 in the competitive grant to cover treatment contracts and law enforcement activities. The resolution passed by voice/roll call, 7-0.

On library governance, Gwen Calabaso and Library Board Chair Elizabeth Stell presented proposed comprehensive revisions to the county library policies. Revisions updated operational principles, clarified public involvement and reconsideration procedures, added collection selection criteria and a new section on programs and events, and allowed the library manager to reduce certain overdue or replacement fees under stated conditions. Councilor Reedy moved adoption and asked to change the phrase \"equal and inclusive access\" to \"equitable and inclusive access\" in section 3.1.5; the motion to adopt with that wording amendment passed 7-0.

The council also accepted the FY2024 annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR) and the independent auditor Hinkle & Landers\u0000\u0000opinion. Deputy auditor Farley Venter reported a clean (unmodified) opinion and no audit findings. The county's government-wide net position was reported at about $633.5 million at June 30, 2024, an increase from 2023; the auditors and county staff attributed much of the year-over-year changes to additional interest income, gross receipts tax increases and a settlement related to utility activities. The acceptance motion passed 7-0.

Procedural items including approval of the agenda and the consent agenda were approved earlier in the meeting without objection.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 737 (Personal income tax rebate for eligible low-income property taxpayers, taxable years 2025\u0000\u0000to 2028): Moved by Councilor Hand; seconded; outcome: adopted; tally: 7-0.

- Ordinance 738 (introduction only) Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program: Introduced without prejudice by Councilor Reiting; staff directed to publish per county charter; no final adoption vote on Jan. 28 (first-reading/introductory action).

- Resolution 25-02 (Authorize application to DFA Local DWI grant and distribution program; approve council chair signature on required MOU and assurances): Moved by Councilor Hand; seconded by Councilor Herrmann; outcome: approved; tally: 7-0. Distribution funds potentially $88,356; grant request about $52,000 (as presented by DWI coordinator Sarah Martinez).

- Library policy revisions (administrative policies, collection development, reconsideration process, programs and events): Moved by Councilor Reedy; seconded by Councilor Hand; outcome: adopted (with wording change to replace \"equal\" with \"equitable\" in section 3.1.5); tally: 7-0.

- Acceptance of FY2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and audit (ACFR): Moved by Councilor Neil Clinton; seconded by Councilor Reedy; outcome: accepted; tally: 7-0. Auditor Hinkle & Landers issued an unmodified (clean) opinion; no audit findings reported.

What council asked for next

Councilors requested additional information and presentations in several areas: staff were asked to provide details about the C-PACE program implementation (ordinance introduction), the low-income property tax rebate program outreach and prior participation numbers, and written scope/timeline/budget information for the Performing Arts Center abatement raised by public commenters. The county manager said staff would follow up and provide additional reports to council.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Los Alamos County - County Council - Regular Session on 2025-01-28 6:00 PM - Jan 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its Jan. 28 meeting the Los Alamos County Council approved reauthorizing a low‑income property tax rebate for four more years, authorized submission of a local DWI grant application, adopted revised library policies, and accepted the FY2024 annual comprehensive financial report and audit; several votes were unanimous.","taxTitle","Los Alamos, New Mexico","taxId",51137,"location","New Mexico","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6671426,"Los Alamos Little Theatre warns asbestos abatement could leave Performing Arts Center unusable without more funding",531,169000,700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2160364-e1975e026649730a1ef8dabf78ee84d3&start=169&end=700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2160364-e1975e026649730a1ef8dabf78ee84d3/thumbnail_169000.jpg","/articles/6671426/New-Mexico/Los-Alamos-Little-Theatre-warns-asbestos-abatement-could-leave-Performing-Arts-Center-unusable-without-more-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671426-1d9fd7a2d47f91ae693aaff83d637398/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180168&Signature=BZLNZS3XG5R35xSVkAVorQN6NoDsCHHU2xBefPKfhi2smw5YU3OVg0ts8Un0p0eH5QageKYP-tkC2zLkjtOPOyuDLDY5pouErf2k0wereRH4Y4nYgDYcojxDd4cA~Fo7dsLy3QXuKBX9tJCONWpQ3AiLaarWGU0kaVrpWmujWpzwPcEaYsEUou4pN4bjIOawVEZRDonx3tNOAzuz8Lk-9KbGqXBe~VnPd06yQMqaaPJGgHbvV-V2rkgNKAC-nG8zlJYBKiKYpzw70ha5HvQ8XK2ItdMM~uvpb33k1CTWXx7y7QW1hZxZE6SB3LM4JNf6ibLALHxvBOvnDceM2Y3Gdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Shauna Zimmerman, president of the Los Alamos Little Theatre, urged the Los Alamos County Council on Jan. 28 to \"help us to stop playing,\" describing an impending asbestos-abatement project she said could leave the theatre an \"empty shell\" unless the county identifies additional funding.

The Little Theatre occupies the Performing Arts Theater Center on Nectar Street and traces its roots to a 1943 group that staged the first plays in Los Alamos. At the council meeting Zimmerman and other theatre board members described decades of community programming and said the group could be unable to use the building during — and possibly after — the abatement work now planned for this summer.

\"There is planning and at least some funding for an asbestos abatement and sprinkler installation project to begin June 1,\" Terri Turton, vice president of the Little Theatre board, told council. \"Our understanding is that up to 90% of the walls and up to 80% of the ceilings and floors will need to be torn out as part of the abatement process. Our concern is that there is no funding to bring the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing up to code as required by state law. There is also no funding to rebuild the walls.\"

Board member Colin McDowell described the theatre\u0000\u0000and its audiences\u0000\u0000as a local economic driver for nearby restaurants and bars. McDowell provided an estimate the company uses for local economic impact, saying a typical audience night generates thousands of dollars in local spending and that the theatre stages multiple productions each year. \"We may be a little theater, but we have a big impact,\" he said.

Councilors and the county manager acknowledged the concerns and said staff would look into the project scope, schedule and funding. In the county manager\u0000\u0000report later in the meeting the manager said staff had been \"surprised by the public comment\" and would follow up, noting that abatement is typically the first phase of a renovation and that code-compliant reconstruction is required before reopening.

The Little Theatre asked the council to request a formal presentation from staff describing the abatement scope, timeline and budget and to consider options to preserve the community venue for performances, classes and rentals.

The council did not take formal action on the matter at the Jan. 28 meeting but several councilors said they wanted more information and that staff should report back to the council.","Board members of the Los Alamos Little Theatre told the County Council that planned asbestos abatement and sprinkler work could gut most interior finishes and that there is no funding to bring the building\u0000\u0000systems back up to code, threatening the organization\u0000\u0000that has occupied the Nectar Street performing arts center since the 1970s.","actionData","errors"]

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Council adopts tax-rebate extension, approves DWI grant application and revises library policy; accepts FY2024 audit

Los Alamos Little Theatre warns asbestos abatement could leave Performing Arts Center unusable without more funding