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County council adopts state‑certified property tax rates for 2025; vote 4‑2
Summary
Los Alamos County Council voted 4‑2 on Sept. 16 to adopt the property tax certificate issued by the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration, a required step for mailing tax bills. Two councilors voted no; the adoption was necessary to enable billing and distribution of revenues to taxing entities.
The Los Alamos County Council voted 4‑2 on Sept. 16 to adopt the property tax certificate for calendar year 2025 as issued by the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), a procedural but necessary action that allows tax bills to be prepared and mailed.
Under state law the DFA issues a certified tax rate schedule; local governing bodies must adopt the DFA certificate so the county assessor can prepare tax notices. County staff told the council the department’s revised certificate shows nominal changes and that voter‑approved debt for UNM‑Los Alamos (UNMLA) contributed to a small increase in the overall residential and nonresidential rates. Once the county delivers the adopted certificate to the assessor, tax schedules are prepared and bills mailed before Nov. 1; first installments are due in December and second installments in May.
Why it matters: adopting the DFA certificate is required to generate tax bills for all taxing entities in the county. If the council had not adopted the certificate, staff said tax bill issuance and the related revenue distributions would be delayed.
Council discussion and vote:
Councilors asked procedural questions about the effect of non‑adoption. County staff and the assessor’s office said failing to adopt the certificate would delay issuance of bills and revenue distributions to entities that rely on property tax receipts.
Roll call vote (Sept. 16, 2025): - Yes: Councilor Herman; Chair Teresa Cole; Councilor Neill Clinton; Councilor Reiting. - No: Councilor Regor; Councilor Hand. - Absent: Councilor Haveman.
The motion passed 4 to 2. The council recorded public comment during the item: White Rock resident Mike Dempsey urged the council to use county reserves for local programs rather than build out additional housing, and said he opposed further large‑scale construction in the county.
Staff noted property‑tax bills are scheduled for mailing by Nov. 1, with delinquency dates of Dec. 10, 2025 (first installment) and May 12, 2026 (second installment).
