THE ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL WAS EXPECTED MONDAY NIGHT TO TAKE A FINAL VOTE ON A PROPOSED TWO CENT A GALLON GASOLINE TAX. IT WAS PROPOSED BY COUNCILOR ISAAC BENTON WHO SAYS THE TAX WOULD RAISE CLOSE TO FIVE MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. HE OPTED TO DEFER THE PROPOSAL UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
NOT EVERYONE LIKES THE IDEA OF THE TAX. THE OPPOSITION IS BEING LED BY THE RIO GRANDE FOUNDATION, WHOSE PRESIDENT IS PAUL GESSING. HE SAYS THEY HAVE MANY REASONS FOR THEIR POSITION, INCLUDING THE REGRESSIVE NATURE OF A GAS TAX.
IF IT HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR, THE GAS TAX WOULD HAVE GONE BEFORE ALBUQUERQUE VOTERS IN OCTOBER. ONE REASON BENTON DEFERRED HIS MEASURE IS BECAUSE OF BECAUSE OF BALLOT SPACE ISSUES.
