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Tucumcari staff outline unpaid business-license collections and code-enforcement gaps
Summary
City staff reported $3,825 in past-due business-license fees and discussed enforcement limits, summons procedures and coordination needs among planning, code compliance and the police. Commissioners directed staff to draft stronger processes and explore staffing and ordinance revisions.
City staff told commissioners on Jan. 13 that the clerk’s office has identified $3,825 in past-due business-license fees and urged stronger enforcement and interdepartmental coordination to collect revenue and enforce city codes.
A city staff member said the clerk’s office compiled a spreadsheet showing past-due licenses; the total had fallen from about $5,500 after recent collection efforts and phone outreach. “The total right now as of today is at $3,825 for past due business license,” the staff member said.
The discussion focused on enforcement mechanics. Staff described the administrative path used now: the clerk sends reminders and, after a deadline, a $10 late fee and potential summons to municipal court. Staff and commissioners noted that state law caps the maximum business-license fee the city can charge and that the municipal process relies largely on summonses that require a court appearance rather than simple pay-by-mail citations.
City staff and commissioners raised operational gaps: code-enforcement functions have been shifted among departments over the years, and community-development staff currently handle zoning reviews but lack sufficient enforcement capacity. Commissioners asked for a clearer division of responsibilities among community development, compliance and the police department, and recommended updating job descriptions and posting positions to restore active code enforcement.
Taxation and revenue coordination was also discussed. Staff said the city is reestablishing contact with the state’s Taxation and Revenue Department to check CRS (Combined Reporting System) numbers and to identify businesses failing to remit state taxes; state staff had suggested referring potential tax fraud cases to the tax-fraud unit.
Next steps and follow-up: Commissioners asked the city manager and staff to draft a detailed business-license ordinance, work with the police department and code compliance on enforcement procedures, and prepare a communication plan to educate businesses about licensing requirements. Staff also proposed sending reminder letters before the March 1 deadline and assessing late fees if businesses remain noncompliant. No formal vote or ordinance change occurred at the session.
