BERNALILLO COUNTY IS FACING A 19 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET SHORTFALL FOR THE FISCAL YEAR THAT STARTS JULY 1ST.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER WAYNE JOHNSON SAYS THEY HAD BANKED ON AN IMPROVING ECONOMY TO HELP FUND COUNTY OPERATIONS, BUT THAT HASN’T MATERIALIZED. HE SAYS THE COUNTY DOESN’T HAVE MUCH IN THE WAY OF GROWTH, SO REVENUES HAVEN’T RECOVERED THE WAY THEY HOPED THEY WOULD. HE SAYS THE COUNTY IS NOW FACED WITH MAKING TOUGH CHOICES.
ONE OF THOSE CHOICES, A TAX INCREASE, IS NOT ON JOHNSON’S RADAR. HE’S OPPOSED TO ANY HIKE IN TAX RATES, SAYING THE COUNTY SHOULD LOOK AT OPERATIONAL COSTS AND MATCH THAT WITH REVENUE.
