BY LWV OBSERVER CORPS
Editor’s note: Members of the League of Woman Voters of Los Alamos Observer Corps have been providing LWV members with reports on certain meetings in the County for many years. These reports have been included in the LWV’s monthly newsletter and now, at the invitation of the Los Alamos Reporter, will also be submitted to the Reporter for publication. The video of the full meeting may be seen at https://losalamos.granicus.com/player/clip/4466?view_id=2&redirect=true
Artificial Turf Feasibility Study, Gross Receipts Tax Increase, Open Space and Trails Management Plan
The session was attended by Councilors Theresa Cull (Chair), Melanee Hand, Suzie Havemann (left early), Ryn Herrmann, Beverly Neal-Clinton, David Reagor, and Randall Ryti.
Artificial Turf Feasibility Study
Council heard a presentation on the draft Artificial Turf Feasibility Study commissioned by the Community Services Department. No action was taken since this agenda item will return to Council in mid-November.
Presenters emphasized that the study’s purpose was only to guide future planning and decision-making.
Study Purpose and Scope
Anya Pastushevska, with the consulting firm NV5, explained that the study was commissioned due to increasing demand for high-quality, multi-use athletic fields at North Mesa Sports Complex and Overlook Park. Key study goals included improving safety, addressing maintenance challenges, and extending field usability through artificial turf installation, where appropriate.
Pastushevska noted that, although the study was focused on the feasibility of utilizing artificial turf at North Mesa and Overlook Park, its scope covered a broad range of related topics, including ADA-compliant walkways and facilities, pedestrian and vehicular access, lighting maintenance and management, renewable energy use, field and park amenities, field realignment and reorientation options.
Community Involvement
Multiple types of community feedback showed mixed opinions on natural grass versus artificial turf. Survey results showed 67% favored installing artificial turf, 23% were opposed, and 10% were unsure.
Turf System Comparisons
Highlights of comparing artificial versus natural turf showed that
● Artificial turf can be used year-round while natural grass has limited use in freezing or wet conditions.
● Artificial turf requires no rest between games. Fields with natural grass require more resting time than they currently get.
● Artificial turf may have high embodied carbon. Natural turf supports green goals but requires high water use and application of pesticides and fertilizers.
● Natural turf maintenance is more labor-intensive, exceeding current staff capacity.
● Gophers on natural turf pose safety hazards for athletes and pest management challenges to County staff.
Specific community concerns included PFAS in artificial turf, microplastics in the environment, recyclability and life cycle of the materials, and increased surface temperatures.
Cost Estimates
After listing many required and optional variations for both parks, the base costs were $20M for the North Mesa Sports Complex and $23M for Overlook Park.
Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) Increase
Voting 6–1, with Councilor Reagor in opposition, Council approved ordinances to increase the Municipal and County Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) by 0.625%, to become effective by July 1, 2026.
Background
Helen Perraglio recapped her presentation from Council’s meeting on 9/30/2025. GRT makes up 72% of the revenue for the County’s General Fund, and property taxes make up about 8%. However, the 14% decline in GRT revenue in FY 25, corresponding to about $13M, was more than projected. The decline is expected to continue in FY 26. Without an increased GRT, Perraglio projected unsustainable deficits of roughly $16M to $20M, beginning in FY 27 and worsening throughout the 10-year financial projection.
Perraglio said the proposed 0.625% GRT is expected to generate approximately $17M annually and would provide for a positive long-range financial projection over the next 10 years of operations.
Impact of Not Adopting the Increment
Perraglio said that, without the increment, immediate budget cuts would be required. She pointed out that the increment is crucial for maintaining community services, public safety, and funding for schools, affordable housing, and economic development. The proposed increment ensures the ability to provide regional strategic partnership support, including $2.5M in recurring support to regional neighbors.
Perraglio said that not approving the GRT increase would also affect the County’s bond rating, preventing it from obtaining the most favorable interest rates for new bonds. The increase is also necessary to fund the debt service for the $75M in planned capital improvement loans, which includes the proposed $40M bond for community broadband.
Public Comments
Members of the public raised several objections to the tax increase, calling it regressive and criticizing the impact on small businesses. In a Chamber of Commerce survey, 73% of business owners opposed the measure. The County’s spending priorities were also questioned.
A resident expressed concern that the GRT increase might negatively impact LANL’s budget. She noted that LANL has already faced significant budget cuts and may be facing a shutdown.
Others supported the tax increase, emphasizing the County’s fiscal responsibility and the need for critical infrastructure projects. A business owner stated that it would not affect her business and viewed the increase as necessary to fund community services.
Council Discussion
Most of the councilors agreed with Perraglio’s arguments for supporting the tax increase.
They also cited:
● the need for financial stability in light of the shutdown and other unforeseen impacts of the changing federal landscape, and
● the need to avoid the risk of going into the red. Councilor Neal-Clinton commented, “I can imagine that if we were to go into the negative, knowing the constituency the way that I do, you all would be out of your minds.”
Councilor Reagor opposed the tax increase, arguing for better planning and management of the County’s finances. He felt that the increased GRT revenue collected from construction activities during the Lab’s explosive growth should have been treated as a one-time windfall to be used only for capital projects and other one-time expenses. He said that, instead, the temporarily increased GRT revenue “has gone on the operating budget, a lot of hiring, and a lot of wages and a lot of other things that are now kind of hanging around our neck. … So everything is in the budget but the kitchen sink, and now the kitchen sink is probably in the budget too.”
He proposed that consideration of a GRT increase be put off, and that the County do a better job planning its operational budget. “We were doing just fine a few years ago with much smaller budgets, and I think we can figure it out.”
Open Space and Trails Management Plan
Council voted unanimously to adopt the Los Alamos County Open Space and Trails Management Plan.
The draft Plan was formally introduced to the Los Alamos County Council at its meeting on October 7, when Sites Southwest consultants delivered a brief presentation.
At this meeting Parks Superintendent Wendy Parker noted that a few changes had been made to the Plan in response to an email from Councilor Cull.
Staff will submit funding requests during future budget periods to implement the Plan’s recommendations.
Other Agenda Items
● Bond Ordinance. An ordinance was introduced to authorize issuance of $40M GRT Improvement Revenue Bonds for the purpose of acquiring, extending, enlarging, repairing, and otherwise improving a Broadband Communications System and other public buildings, facilities and infrastructure. A Public Hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for November 18, 2025.
● Landfill Feasibility Study. Danielle Duran, Intergovernmental Affairs Manager, reported that a potential property for a new regional landfill is being evaluated. The property is owned by the city of Española.
● Jemez Mountain Wildfire Protection Project. Duran said that FEMA had “technically” approved the County’s grant application for the Jemez Mountain Wildfire Protection Project. However, there is now a new requirement that the Cabinet Secretaries sign off on large grant applications. “So, this is sitting on Secretary Noem’s desk,” said Duran, “and hopefully they’ll see how critical our project is to ensure that the Laboratory and the people of Los Alamos stay safe.”
● Radar Speed Signs. Duran reported that the County is purchasing radar speed signs in order to improve traffic safety in the corridor as part of the Los Alamos Police Department’s partnership with the Pueblo of San Ildefonso.