Los Alamos Reporter

Council To Adopt State Legislative Agenda At Tuesday’s Meeting

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BY MAIRE O’NEILL

At their last meeting for 2018, Los Alamos County Councilors are slated to vote on their 2019 State Legislative Agenda in preparation for the Jan. 15, 2019 opening of the legislative session.

The Council’s Legislative Agenda Committee members Chair David Izraelevitz, Councilor Rick Reiss and Councilor Antonio Maggiore recently reviewed priorities identified by including those of the New Mexico Association of Counties (NMAC) and the New Mexico Municipal League (NMML). They also considered staff-recommended issues.

Items the committee proposed for adoption by the full Council are:

  • Support efforts towards maintaining the tax revenues from the managing entities that operate the national laboratories in New Mexico so that state and regional revenues are not negatively impacted by lab contract turnover;
  • Support legislation supporting Los Alamos County’s application for capital outlay funding to develop affordable/workforce housing infrastructure;
  • Support restoration of full service Public Health Offices throughout the state, including in Los Alamos;
  • Support legislation that provides sufficient funding for New Mexico public schools;
  • Support legislative priorities of NMAC and NMML;
  • Monitor tax reform tax reform legislation that directly affects Los Alamos County and/or its ability to serve its citizens;
  • Monitor funding for MainStreet/Arts and Cultural District programming and other statewide economic development initiatives;
  • Monitor efforts that clarify the Local Economic Development Act;
  • Monitor job training programs for the service sector that support local business and general economic development efforts;
  • Oppose changes to the state school funding formula that would adversely impact Los Alamos Public School District;
  • Oppose proposals that would reduce the County’s net receipt of general GRT or other revenues;
  • Oppose legislation that imposes further financial burden on Counties with respect to the Safety Net Care pool and State Medicaid funding;
  • Oppose legislation that limits H-class or Home Rule authority;
  • Oppose legislation that involves the preemption of existing County duties or authority.

If approved, the Legislative Agenda will be used as a guide for the County’s intergovernmental efforts and direction from the County Council to staff and the County’s legislative support contractor.