By SHARON DRY
White Rock

I believe it is time to stop paying additional property taxes to fund the Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS), and vote AGAINST the Public School Buildings Act Tax, which is on the Nov. 2 ballot.

The levy will “continue to impose a property tax of $3.246 for residential and non-residential property per each $1,000.00 of net taxable value of property allocated to the Los Alamos Public School district for the property tax years 2022…2027”.

The LAPS already receives Federal, State, DOE, COVID and County property tax money to run and maintain the Los Alamos Schools.

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics website, at the end of last year there was $6.3M unspent from total revenues of $49.4M (13 percent surplus).

It is unnecessary to continue to allow the LAPS to impose additional property taxes to fund this ongoing mill levy for 6 additional years, given operating surpluses. Many Los Alamos families and households do not run surpluses and this year’s inflation rate is already >5 percent with rising food and energy costs and winter on the horizon.

I also understand that the overall property taxes for Los Alamos County are about to increase  significantly due to increases in assessments as a result of rising home values. This will already increase all property taxes next year. Prepare for the sticker shock! How about a break to cover this increase?

The LAPS needs to find ways to reduce its costs, as all residents will in the coming years.

It is being deceptively stated that this mill levy would not increase our taxes, but voting AGAINST will reduce them!

Editor’s Note: Readers are encouraged to always do their own research on statements made in letters.