By Mary Alice Murphy
Three members of the Grant County Commission made up a quorum to approve a resolution certifying property tax rates in mills for tax year 2017.
"We received the state-approved tax rates on Sept. 7," Assessor Raul Turrieta said. "We have 10 days to approve them."
He compared the 2016 tax rates to those for 2017. Some rates went down, but most went up. The handout listed only the rates, but Turrieta spoke about the percentage changes, which he later sent by email.
[Editor's Note: The percent in each section denotes the change. The second number is in mills per $1000 valuation.]
All rates listed include the state debt service at 0.001360 mills; county residential at 0.006262; county non-residential at 0.011850 mills and county debt service at 0.001138 mills. All are the same as 2016, except for the county residential, which dropped from 0.006314 to 0.006262 for 2017.
For 1-IN, which is inside Silver City limits, the total rate for residential has dropped by 0.67 percent to 0.01698 mills.
Non-residential in 1-IN has increased by 0.81 percent to 0.024134 mills.
In 1-OUT, outside city limits and including Cliff and Hachita, the rate for residential dropped by 0.64 percent to 0.015060. For non-residential, the rate dropped by 0.06 percent to 0.020824.
In 2-B, Bayard, residential went up 8.25 percent to 0.018803, because of the Cobre Schools bond issue.
Non-residential 2-B also went up 6.65 percent to 0.025451.
In 2-C, Santa Clara, residential also rose by 8.88 percent to 0.018205, on account of the bond issue.
Non-residential in 2-C went up by 7.61 percent to 0.024823.
In 2-H, Hurley, residential rose by 8.60 percent to 0.018835, and non-residential increased by 7.89 percent to 0.024176.
2-Out includes Mimbres, Hanover, and other areas on the north and east sides of the county, the residential rate went up by 9.35 percent and in non-residential, the rate went up by 7.33 percent.
Turrieta addressed Commissioner Billy Billings specifically and said the rate for cattle rose by 24.24 percent.
1-W, which includes the Gila Watershed, the rate dropped by 0.14 percent. Sheep/goats/swine went up by 6.07 percent. Dairy cattle went up 18.48 percent. Bison dropped by 0.14 percent, horses/asses/mules dropped by 20.64 percent.
Turrieta said everything is done by valuable.
Commission Chairman Brett Kasten noted that if valuation drops, the rate rises.
"Cobre passed a bond issue, which increases the rate," Turrieta said. "Valuation is at $847 million. The value includes the copper valuation."
Turrieta said if his office brings in net new, that brings more revenue to the county. If the valuation is deferred maintenance, it would increase the rate, but with net new, the rate goes down."
Kasten said Denny's has replaced the Red Barn, but the difference in valuation is net new.
Turrieta explained it as expanding the pie.
Edwards asked for clarification. "So in order to grow the taxable value we have to have new valuation." That was confirmed to be new construction or new property found never to have been taxed before.
Billings said he understands that in other states, the state sets the budget and balances it with the rate.
Kasten said: "We live in a state that wants to control the counties and the cities. The state takes 100 percent of the property tax and then doles out to us what the state doesn’t need. The term limit us, but not themselves."
The meeting adjourned.