A comprehensive review by citizens and officials is needed, particularly to determine how best to provide government services and to meet the needs of a diverse and growing population. I foresee a period of several years in which this community engages in an exciting process of study, debate, contemplation, and action about designing our government for the 21st century. One thing is for certain. Nothing will happen automatically or without full public discussion and vote. The overlapping governments present certain tax inequities for all Bernalillo County taxpayers.
City government is funded primarily from sales taxes.
County government gets most of its revenue from property taxes. This means that shoppers in Albuquerque pay to support Albuquerque city government, no matter where they live. It means that property owners in Albuquerque pay to support services in unincorporated areas of the county, even if they never go there. East Mountain and South Valley residents spend millions in sales taxes in the City of Albuquerque when they buy groceries, haircuts, furniture, and any other goods or services there. But they never have a real voice in deciding how those taxes get spent because they don't live and vote within Albuquerque's city limits.