By KHAL SPENCERThere seems to be some disagreement as to whether an affirmative vote by the community to increase the levy for UNM-LA or LAPS would be a tax increase.
I suggest the simple Duck Test: If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. So if the amount of my check to the county, based on my property assessment, were go to up, it sure does sound like a duck. Er, I mean a tax. But that is beside the point.
The question of whether a levy increase to support local public educational institutions is a good idea is separate from whether or not we call a duck a duck. We pay taxes to support things we value in the public space. High quality public educational resources were critical to many of us on our life’s journey between kindergarten and high value jobs.
So if we value UNM-LA and LAPS and think they are first, run well and efficiently and second, provide a public service we value, then we need to help pay the bills. If not, well…then we don’t.
