Española School Board members want an advocate when trying to influence the political process and they are discussing the possibility of paying for one.
Members are considering hiring a lobbyist to advance their proposal to impose a sales tax for Rio Arriba County residents. They discussed it at the July 19 retreat at the Santa Claran Hotel and Casino.
They want to implement a three-quarters percent gross receipts tax on nearly all items consumers purchase, excluding food and medical supplies. The proceeds will pay the interest and principal on the general obligation bonds the District issued.
A lobbyist would try to convince state legislators and Gov. Susana Martinez to introduce legislation to impose that tax.
“There is a line item in the budget for contract services and we can use a portion of that money for the lobbyist.” District Superintendent Danny Trujillo said.
The lobbyist would cost approximately $30,000, covering a period from now until March. District Financial Advisor Leo Valdez said ideally, the other school districts and charter schools will contribute money toward the fee, lowering the individual cost for every district in the area.
Valdez proposed that lobbying costs be allocated based on enrollment figures — the larger the student body, the higher the lobbying cost for the school. The gross receipts tax is allocated based on District size and, from Valdez’s perspective, it only makes sense that larger districts pay a higher portion of the cost. After all, they will receive a larger share of the gross receipts tax funds.
Based on Valdez’s estimates, the District would pay a little more than $20,000, or more than two-thirds of the total cost. That assumes other districts and charter schools participate in sharing the cost of hiring a lobbying firm.
The task may prove difficult. Board members and Trujillo must convince the majority of their counterparts of the value a lobbyist will provide.
“It is not just the superintendents that we have to convince,” Chavez said. “We have to speak with the Board members and convince them of their need to participate. Ultimately, the Board members will vote on whether or not they want to participate.”
One school that may not participate is Cariños Charter School.
Cariños Chancellor Vernon Jaramillo said he would be willing to consider it — perhaps even take it to his Board of directors, but one Board member is unsure about working with the District.
“I am inclined to vote no,” Cariños Board member Del Jimenez said. “We were supposed to receive money from the District for a number of items and have not received them. That (tax) money would go first to the District and I don’t think we would ever see it.”
Valdez estimated the gross receipts tax will generate $3.2 million and he expects the District to collect more than $2.1 million of it. Over its lifetime, the District will collect $22.5 million in revenues.
Hiring a lobbyist is just one part of a larger legislative strategy. According to the presentation, Valdez, Trujillo and Board members will be involved in the process.
They will speak with legislative staff to discuss the importance of the tax. They will also speak with appropriate legislative committee members in the House and Senate and provide testimony at committee hearings describing the benefits the tax will have on the District.
Board members plan to talk with the Martinez and her staff to keep them apprised of the District’s position.
The District will reach out to the public by planning a marketing campaign to inform County residents of Board members’ intention.
The strategy calls for purchasing radio and television advertisements and sending out mailers to County residents, informing them of the issue and asking them to vote for the tax.
They will also speak to various state and local community members to inform them about the tax and the benefits it provides the community.
Board members want to send out a request for qualifications to determine which lobbying firm would be the most qualified. The request will be presented at the Aug. 6 regular Board meeting as a consent item.