COUNTY News: 

In a 6-1 vote Tuesday night, Los Alamos County Council approved two ordinances to increase the Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) in Los Alamos by 0.625 percent. The increase goes into effect July 1, 2026.

The increase is in response to a substantial reduction in GRT revenue that the County will receive from its largest GRT contributor, Los Alamos National Laboratory, now that a portion of its operations is falling under the state’s GRT exemption for manufacturing.

Administrative Services Director Helen Perraglio explained that the increase was necessary because without it the County would have an unsustainable deficit, and cuts to operations, services and programs would be necessary.

Councilor David Reagor cast the opposing vote, saying he felt the tax increase from the laboratory had been a windfall and shouldn’t have been used in the operating budget, but rather for one time uses. Reagor added that he didn’t believe in the dire predictions for the County’s financial future if the increase wasn’t approved. He also pointed out that the future isn’t known; cuts to the laboratory’s budget could be made.