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Taos MRA officials prioritize funding questions, ask for BRIC clarification from Taos Main Street
Summary
Commissioners identified funding and administrative capacity as top priorities, discussed TIF, bonds and federal/state grants (including BRIC), and agreed to obtain memoranda and implementation timelines from Taos Main Street and to meet town leadership about resource availability for FY27.
At the Feb. 18 meeting, members of the Taos Metropolitan Redevelopment Area emphasized funding as a central question for the board's ability to act on projects.
Chair Donald Wood said the MRA currently has no earmarked funds and noted the town’s fiscal year timing when discussing whether any resources could be allocated for fiscal 2027. "If there's any funding between now and June, I assume there's probably not," Wood said, adding that the board should prepare a case to request funds for the July 1 start of FY27.
Commissioners discussed a range of funding mechanisms including tax-increment financing (TIF), municipal bonds and state and federal grant programs. Several participants highlighted BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) work as a possible early project but said the board needs clarity about what Taos Main Street and county partners expect of the MRA.
Wayne Rutherford said the consultants and Taos Main Street had been expected to advise on TIF and other financing tools. "Maybe we need to see the agreement that the Populous has with the town of Taos and the county," Rutherford said, urging the board to review any existing contracts or memoranda of understanding.
The board voted to ask Taos Main Street representatives (Charles Whitson or Jessica Stern) to provide a written implementation update and to attend the March meeting for a briefing. Commissioners also agreed to prepare a list of questions for Mayor Barone and Town Manager Martinez about what town resources and in-kind support might be available.
No funding allocation was approved at the meeting; the board recorded the item as a top priority for follow-up before it pursues TIF, bonds or grant applications.
