Another New Tax? Vote is Tonight
Bernalillo County Right of Way Ordinance Will Be Decided Tonight: The Bernalillo County Commission is scheduled to vote TONIGHT on a proposed Right-of-Way Use Ordinance to impose fees on utility and nonutility entities that use county property. But this "fee" is really a tax. Bernalillo County Commissioner Wayne Johnson put it this way, "A tax is a tax even when you call it a 'fee.' and utilities can, do and will pass the proposed 3 percent 'fee' on to you no matter what it's called." Read more by Commissioner Johnson HERE. The ordinance would allow for fees to be calculated and collected using two (2) options: 1) Franchise Fee - a percentage of gross revenues and 2) Assessed Usage Fee - a formula-based calculation using "assessed value" of property occupied. Because of utility rate structures, fees are usually passed on to ALL of a utility's customers - not just those residing in the affected area.