Clovis voters should say no, no and no to latest tax plan

Clovis voters go to the polls on March 6 to consider a $20 million property tax increase.

For the owner of a $100,000 house, that could mean paying an extra $260 per year. If your house is worth $250,000, your taxes could increase $650 per year.

In return, we get better roads, a better senior center and a better “wellness” center, or a place to swim and lift weights, officials say. At least that’s the plan, over the next 12 or 13 years.

Let us count the reasons to vote no, no and no:

• We’ve been taxed enough already, and more increases have been promised ... even if voters reject these.

It wasn’t a year ago Clovis city commissioners voted to increase the gross receipts tax. They said it would generate $860,000 per year (meaning we pay an extra $860,000 per year for things we buy). They told us they had practically no choice because of an evil perpetrated on us at the state level. Not only that, they told us to expect two more similar GRT tax hikes in the next few years — just so they could keep the city operating without cutting services.

• We’re a little skeptical of the “need” to spend more tax dollars now.

A few weeks after the city implemented the GRT tax increase that Mayor David Lansford characterized as “inevitable” unless “we want to cut services and personnel,” city commissioners voted to spend nearly all of that extra money on ... pay raises for city employees.

Apparently our city officials are a little unclear on the difference between “must have” and “that would be nice.”

• Do not confuse the March 6 election with the water issues the city’s Water Policy Strategic Planning Team has been discussing the past year.

If that’s approved, it’s going to cost more than $40 million and it’s not related to the March 6 election.

For that matter, do not confuse the Ute water pipeline project with the city’s Master Water Assurance Plan.

The estimated $485 million we still need to build a pipeline from Ute Lake in Quay County is not part of the $40 million to $60 million that it’s going to cost to “bank” water from local farmers.

Sunday’s newspaper story headlined “Water banking: Essential to our future?” summarized that issue if you’re not familiar.

• The March 6 election targets property owners in the city of Clovis. But the planned improvements are intended to improve life for anyone who passes through Clovis — not just the property owners who will be paying for the goods.

It seems more logical that roads, senior centers and swimming pools — if needed — should be funded by everyone who uses them. Maybe that’s an argument to vote for a tax increase if you don’t own property in town. But it’s certainly an argument to vote against a tax increase if you do.

• And one more time: We’ve been taxed enough already. Actually, too many times without our input or our permission.

Three times since 2010 Curry County voters said no to a county jail/courthouse expansion and renovation. Somehow, 14 million tax dollars got spent on jail/courthouse expansion and renovation anyway.

If you want to go back just a few more years, voters also said no to building county and city events centers. They’re here, and they lose hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars every year.

To be fair, the city’s roads could use some improvements. But don’t be fooled. The city’s annual budget is already more than $40 million, and our leaders choose to spend a large chunk of it on things other than roads and infrastructure.

We mentioned this last year, but it’s worth repeating:

• The city collects almost $1 million per year from taxpayers just for “economic development.”

• The city’s events center, golf course, zoo and bus service combined lose about $1.5 million per year.

Ironically, it was that golf course and similar “quality of life” initiatives that got former Mayor Gayla Brumfield booted out of office. This bunch apparently didn’t get the message.

Early voting for the 2018 bond election is already under way. Just say no, no and no.

Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the Clovis Media Inc. editorial board, which includes Editor David Stevens and Publisher Rob Langrell.