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Vote 2006: Tribune recommends on bonds, amendments, taxes and flood control

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TRIBUNE RECOMMENDS

Today the Tribune begins its endorsements in the Nov. 7 general election. We are endorsing only in contested races in which Bernalillo County voters have a say.

STATE BONDS

All three bonds, totaling $143 million, would pay for a host of worthy projects that otherwise might have a hard and haphazard time getting funded.

The intent of the state this year and in several previous years has been to structure statewide bonds so they don't raise property taxes. But it has been difficult to get state finance officials to say so definitively. They argue that the bonds' effects on taxes are complicated and difficult to predict, based on several factors - including the amount of bonds approved, other bonds paid off, dates of issuance, interest rates and other costs.

This caginess is a serious concern for The Tribune and many bond advocates. State officials, in trying to be painfully honest, come off looking as if they're trying to sneak something past taxpayers - thereby endangering the bonds. They need to find a way to communicate the state's intent more clearly.

BOND A, SENIOR CENTERS

For the bond

Bond A would provide $16 million for 160 projects to build, renovate and otherwise improve senior citizens' centers in 30 New Mexico counties, 12 pueblos and the Navajo Nation. The biggestticket item is $3 million to construct a central kitchen to serve Albuquerque's senior centers. The bond benefits many other senior centers in the city and Bernalillo County as well.

BOND B, HIGHER EDUCATION

For the bond

Education advocates are campaigning hard for this $118.1 million bond, which would be distributed among junior and community colleges, four-year colleges and universities throughout the state.

In line for upgrades locally is the University of New Mexico, which would reap $3.5 million to replace its - literally - sunken College of Education building, $7 million for a cutting-edge, integrated Science and Math Learning Center and more. Central New Mexico Community College would gain a new, $11.3 million classroom/technology building for its crowded main campus.

Advocates rightly note that UNM alone is $100 million in arrears on projects it has identified as necessary. This bond would address a fraction of those needs for UNM and other schools, but the help is more than welcome.

BOND C, LIBRARIES

For the bond

Overwhelmingly rural New Mexico will not move forward by concentrating its library power here in Albuquerque and in other large cities. Libraries in outlying communities need support, too. This bond would spread $9.1 million in books, equipment and resources around libraries statewide.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

AMENDMENT 1, PROPERTY RIGHTS

For the amendment

This mop-up amendment would get rid of old, embarrassing language in the state Constitution aimed at discriminating against Asians. The old language forbids "aliens ineligible to citizenship" or the businesses they own from acquiring property in New Mexico. The restriction was overruled in 1975 by a law that now allows "aliens" to take title to property. But the language remains in the Constitution, to the shame of a state that now is far more open-minded.

AMENDMENT 2, BUILDING LEASES

For the amendment

Amendment 2 is about making it easier for schools around the state to acquire sorely needed space. The amendment would loosen restrictions in the state Constitution to allow state, county and city school districts - including charter schools - to enter more efficiently into lease-purchase agreements for buildings and other real property. Charter schools especially are hurting for space, and the amendment could help them find it.

The restrictions have held school districts back from entering into innovative public-private partnerships. The limitations also have cost schools money. For one example, the state spends about $42 million a year on leases for offices and warehouses, and schools spend about $5 million a year on leasing classroom space - money down the drain. The amendment would give schools the option ultimately of owning the property.

Advocates stress that the amendment provides taxpayer safeguards, including public accountability and oversight through the state appropriations process and by making it relatively easy for schools to get out of a lease-purchase agreement when necessary.

AMENDMENT 3, WATER TRUST FUND

For the amendment

Despite recent rains, New Mexico remains in a long-term drought - and, after all, it's in the desert, where it needs to ration its water carefully. A growing, arid state such as ours must make it a matter of life and death to dedicate ample funds to acquiring, protecting and conserving water to the best of its ability.

New Mexico created a water trust fund by law in 2001. But laws are easy to change. Amendment 3 would embed the trust fund in the state Constitution and require the state to spend money from the fund every year to carry out a state water plan. This well-organized, comprehensive approach, by the way, should help New Mexico leverage federal funds for water projects.

AMENDMENT 4, AFFORDABLE HOUSING

For the amendment

Little is better for promoting good citizenship and responsible living than home ownership. But home ownership is difficult for many in New Mexico, a poor state. Hence, the state's interest in public support for affordable housing.

Amendment 4 broadens state and local governments' ability to help provide affordable housing. It adds the public New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority to the list of those who can issue housing grants - namely state, county and municipal governments. And it allows them all to participate in financing affordable-housing land purchases, construction, conversion, renovation, down payments and low-interest loans - rather than just donating land or buildings or water and sewer lines and such, which is what they're limited to now.

The increased flexibility will help advance the cause of home ownership, and New Mexicans could use it.

BERNALILLO COUNTY BONDS, TAXES

The county's five proposed bond issues, totaling $18 million, are designed to replace existing bonds and levies and will not raise taxes. The proposed "quality of life" initiative, however, would increase the county's gross-receipts tax by three-sixteenths of a percent, to raise $30 million a year for arts and cultural organizations. We find most of the proposals worthy of voters' approval, but we have bones to pick with two: Bond 5 and the "quality of life" initiative.

BOND 1, LIBRARIES

For the bond

You can't beat a free and well-stocked public library system for providing citizens with intellectual capital. Well-informed citizens make for a better and more prosperous city. This $1 million bond would keep the information cutting edge and flowing, with grants to every branch of the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County library system.

BOND 2, PUBLIC SAFETY

For the bond

Bond 2's $4.3 million would build a needed emergency center to house firefighters and sheriff's deputies conveniently to growing and far-flung East Mountain communities. Existing stations no longer are adequate to accommodate swelling staffs. The bond money also would allow the county to complete its renovations to the Juvenile Detention Center. People insist public safety is important. Here's a chance to back that up.

BOND 3, PARKS AND RECREATION

For the bond

Everybody knows what happens to people who are "all work and no play." This is why the public has an interest in promoting recreation and good health. This $2.2 million bond would renovate deteriorating Paradise Hills, Rio Grande, South Valley and Alameda pools, in the nick of time to keep them from closing. This is no-frills, must-do work. The bond also would build an efficient new gym, in partnership with the East Mountain Charter School. The gym would be shared by the school and the community, benefiting both.

BOND 4, ROADS

For the bond

Road bonds are the bread and butter of public works. Bond 4 would distribute $9.4 million around the county, including to road projects that articulate with city improvements - such as four-laning Edith Boulevard from Candelaria to Montano; adding bike lanes, sidewalks and turn lanes to Lyon and Unser boulevards; and widening Montan at Edith. Much of the bond money will allow the county to bring in matching federal funds.

BOND 5, HILAND THEATER

Against the bond

Kelly's Brewery at 3222 Central Ave. S.E. - that's the first memory that leaped to mind after hearing this proposal to spend $1.1 million in public money to purchase the privately owned, former Hiland movie theater.

The Hiland gambit is largely supported by groups that hope to use the theater as a public performance space. County officials see a number of options, including selling it at a profit, if necessary, because the building is a great real estate deal.0

We see a number of problems. Albuquerque already has so many competing performing venues that the Hiland could have a hard time staying filled. The current owners are having trouble making ends meet. The location may not be attractive enough - yet - to appeal to prospective audiences. The county's plans for the building are a little too iffy. And readers should recall the fight over Kelly's.

The county tried, unsuccessfully, to push through a public bond issue to buy the former gas station at 3222 Central S.E. and turn it into a community center. A private entrepreneur, however, argued the site would be better used as a brew pub. Turns out the entrepreneur was right. Kelly's is a goodlooking, extremely popular establishment that has brightened the street life of Central in Nob Hill immensely - just what urban planners had wanted from the address.

Voters should hold out for the time being on this one.

OPEN SPACE MILL LEVY

Don't forget: This measure was supposed to have come before the voters on Nov. 7 - but county officials forgot to include it on the ballot. So, we're told, it won't be there for voters to decide. Just in case the levy somehow reappears (stranger things have happened): We support continuing the levy, which is designed not to raise taxes and which would help provide better access to county open spaces.

QUALITY-OF-LIFE INITIATIVE

Against the tax

Our bottom line today is much the same as it was before the County Commission approved putting this tax proposal on the Nov. 7 ballot. The cause of providing additional operating money countywide to support the arts and cultural institutions is worthy. But voters lately have been facing an awful lot of tax requests. Besides being asked to continue existing tax rates by approving several bonds and taxes on Nov. 7, they also recently held their tongues while the commission - quite appropriately - passed tax hikes to pay for growing costs at the Metropolitan Detention Center and University of New Mexico Hospital.

Yes, established arts and cultural institutions here always could use more money. But they're tapped in well enough to do well for the time being.

By far, most of the bonds and taxes on the Nov. 7 ballot deserve voter approval. Let's hold the "quality of life" initiative for a better time, strategically speaking.

FLOOD CONTROL AUTHORITY

One nonpartisan board seat and a $20 million bond - designed not to raise taxes - are up for votes in this election for the small but important Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority.

AMAFCA, founded in 1963, is the agency responsible for building and maintaining more than 100 miles of large channels and arroyos and numerous dams and ponding areas that drain flood waters in the metropolitan area. Many of the nicest bike trails in town run along AMAFCA channels, thanks to the agency's cooperation with Albuquerque and other governments.

BOARD, DISTRICT 3

Tim Eichenberg

Eichenberg is an experienced board member with a reputation for frugality and keeping a close eye on taxpayers' money to ensure that it is well-spent.

The real estate investor, former Bernalillo County treasurer and former Albuquerque Environmental Planning Commission member has served for a total of 10 years on the AMAFCA board. His background has given him an excellent perspective on the connections between flood control and the growth and development of the metro area.

Frugality is a must-have virtue at AMAFCA, which is known for its small but productive staff, excellent tax discipline and steady-handed budgeteering. The instinct for oversight also is important, as the mostly quiet, controversy-free agency is often overlooked by the media and taxpayer-advocates.

Eichenberg is equipped with both virtues.

BOND

For the bond

In the desert, it's either droughts or floods, without much in between. Good drainage is a matter of survival. This fall was exceptionally rainy, and AMAFCA ditches took a beating and need to be repaired, and the system needs to be upgraded and extended to growing parts of town. That's what this $20 million bond issue, designed not to raise taxes, would help pay for.

Voters should approve the AMAFCA bonds not only because these projects, which are spread around town, are needed, but also because of AMAFCA's track record in managing such projects.

Consider: AMAFCA channels are draining an increasing volume of storm waters - with six of its top 20 flows, recorded in the North Diversion Channel, happening this year. Those floods damaged several AMAFCA structures, but the system basically did its job. Meanwhile, AMAFCA continues to become increasingly innovative about ditch and dam designs and about accommodating multiple uses such as bike trails and parks.

AMAFCA does this with a staff of 19 and a 2007 operating budget of $2.7 million, with a tax rate that has regularly fallen for residential taxpayers in recent years - especially impressive, considering the increasing volumes of water it handles. Its current residential mill levy of 0.178 is well under the maximum rate of 0.5 mills that AMAFCA is allowed to charge. And the flood control authority continues to earn excellent bond ratings.

This year's rains tested the city's drainage system. Keep in mind that the storm sewers that drain Albuquerque's streets are separate from AMAFCA's big channels. Albuquerque could do a much better job of engineering and hooking up to AMAFCA ditches, and it should get on it. But City Hall has to be able to hook up to something good. Support the bonds.

Monday: The Tribune recommends candidates in races for Bernalillo County sheriff and assessor, in judicial races for the 2nd Judicial District, Metro Court and statewide judicial retention.