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Los Ranchos trustees ratify voter‑approved GRT, open municipal facilities to private rentals, extend PNM franchise and approve grant submissions
Summary
At its March 17 meeting, the Board of Trustees adopted the enabling ordinance to implement a voter‑approved municipal GRT, approved new rules allowing private and for‑profit rentals of village facilities (with permit and insurance rules), extended time for PNM to accept a franchise ordinance, and authorized multiple grant/resolution submissions. Several measures passed unanimously.
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque trustees on Tuesday moved a set of municipal actions that will put previously voter‑approved and administratively proposed initiatives into effect and authorize funding applications for local projects.
The Board adopted Ordinance No. 309, the gross receipts tax (GRT) enabling ordinance required by the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration to implement the municipal economic development GRT voters approved last November. "This is the gross receipts tax enabling ordinance required by DFAS to actually put into place the gross receipts tax that the voters of Los Ranchos approved last November," said Miss Schultz, who explained the ordinance is a procedural step to send the measure to DFA and schedule it to go into effect on July 1.
In the same meeting the Board approved Ordinance No. 310, which expands permitted users of municipal facilities beyond nonprofits to individuals and for‑profit entities and sets a regulatory process for fees, application forms and insurance requirements. "This ordinance removed the requirement that alcohol could only be served at village sponsored events," Mr. Chapel explained, adding that any private event serving alcohol must obey state law and provide insurance and dram‑shop coverage to protect the village.
Trustees also approved Resolution 20260301 to extend the acceptance window for the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) to accept the village's 2022 franchise ordinance (which raised the franchise fee to 3%). Counsel said the extension was necessary because PNM's acceptance window lapsed and working cooperatively is preferable to creating a franchise gap that could disrupt service or rights in the village's right‑of‑way.
The Board authorized Resolution 20260302 to submit a New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA) application for partial grant and matching funding for solar installations and facility electrical upgrades across several village properties, and Resolution 20260303 to adjust the budget and transfer $60,000 of general‑fund reserves to match a New Mexico Department of Transportation grant for Rio Grande project phase one.
All votes on the ordinances and resolutions reported in this summary passed on recorded voice/roll calls with the four trustees present voting in favor.
Why it matters: The GRT ordinance implements a voter‑approved tax that will begin to generate revenue on July 1 and requires a follow‑up plan about how proceeds will be allocated. The facilities ordinance creates a new revenue opportunity for the village but also raises questions trustees discussed about resident preference, liability and appeal processes. Extending the PNM franchise acceptance restores a path to update franchise obligations and fees for the village's right‑of‑way use.
What happens next: The GRT enabling ordinance will be filed with DFA per state procedure to take effect on its scheduled date. Staff will draft implementing regulations and the 'lead a plan' for GRT project selection and metrics; the facilities ordinance implementation details (rates, application forms, indemnities) will be established by regulation and resolution before the new rental regime is broadly advertised.
