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LOCAL & REGION
THE NEW MEXICAN Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Bills: SB 10 based on Utah law Continued from Page A-5 nor’s call — can be considered. At 37 pages, Senate Bill 10, co-sponsored by Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort, R-Sandia Park, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is the lengthiest of the three bills and potentially the most controversial. Traditionally the state’s economic-development efforts have involved trying to entice companies to locate in New Mexico by offering incentives such as tax breaks. But SB 10, based on an approach adopted by the state of Utah, would encourage businesses to relocate or expand their operations here with a post-performance incentive that would be paid only after new jobs have been created. The state would give 30 percent rebates of gross receipts, corporate income and withholding taxes as long as a company has created a certain number of jobs or if the company met certain annual benchmarks — creating at least 10 jobs in urban areas, five in rural communities or investing at least $5 million on land, buildings or improvements for urban businesses, $2.5 million for rural. To count toward the government incentive, the jobs would have to pay at least 125 percent of the average annual wage in an urban area or, for business in rural areas, at least 100 percent of the average annual wage in that area. Almost guaranteed to draw the opposition of lobbyists from various businesses is a section of this bill that would close several existing tax loopholes that benefit what Nathan calls “narrow special interests.” These include tax breaks for cigarette distributors, professional fighting, all-terrain and recreational vehicle sales and website hosting. The bill also would reduce from 75 percent to 30 percent the amount of tax revenues that may be dedicated to a tax increment development district. Together, Think New Mexico estimates, closing these loopholes would generate more than $10 million in revenue for the state. Papen’s other bills prefiled Monday are: u Senate Bill 8, co-sponsored by Sen. Gay Kernan of Hobbs, the ranking Republican on the Senate Education Committee. This bill is an effort to increase the number of entrepreneurs in the state by offering in-state tuition to international students majoring in science, technology, engineering, math or business at state universities. Nathan said that research indicates that students from other countries is good for New expanding the horizons of New Mexico students. He said that international students in those areas of study tend to become entrepreneurs after they graduate. u Senate Bill 9, co-sponsored by Sen. Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque. This measure is in response to business owners who complain that there are too many forms and too many offices to visit to start new businesses. The bill would create a “one-stop” online portal, where businesses would be able to file all the forms and fees required by state agencies including the Taxation and Revenue Department and the Department of Workforce Solutions. Nathan said that 18 states have created such portals.
NMSU plans to standardize security cameras LAS CRUCES — New Mexico State University is moving to standardize the approximately 200 security cameras on its campus and give the university police department real-time access to the images. University officials say the cameras can help prevent and solve thefts and other crimes, and also help police detect and respond to other emergency situations. The Associated Press
City launches redesigned website based Desert Elements Design, which designed the new website, said the new tracking system is designed to improve communication and increase efficiency. In addition to allowBy Daniel J. Chacón ing residents to track reports The New Mexican online, city employees can manage those reports either Communicating with Santa from the office or a mobile Fe city government online is device from the field, she said. about to get easier. “It’s a big additional compoCity residents will be able to nent to the website,” Duncan go online and track reports for said. everything from potholes and The new website cost graffiti to barking dogs by using $233,800 under a contract the the city government’s redecity signed with Desert Elesigned website. ments Design in May 2012. But don’t try the so-called That included a $5,517 hosting constituent management relationship tool just yet. While the fee, a cost the city will incur annually. Under the previous city launched the new website contract, the city paid its venFriday, the new reporting and tracking system isn’t scheduled dor $74,900 for the old website, plus an annual hosting fee of to go live until later this week. Molly Duncan, president and $33,200. The new website mirrors creative director of Santa Fe-
New site designed to improve efficiency, communication
the Santa Fe County government website, which also was designed by Desert Elements Design. City spokeswoman Jodi McGinnis Porter said the company previously contracted by the city for its website had a proprietary code that limited the city’s ability to make changes. For example, job postings were limited to a certain number of words, and job applicants could upload only a limited number of attachments. Under the new contract, the city government owns the code. “The new website, the city now owns, and it’s scalable and flexible and tailored to the city’s needs,” Duncan said. “Scalable means that they can add on to it easily.” Another new feature of the website is a “purchasing tool” for vendors, who can submit bids or
manage their accounts online. The city government tried to improve the navigation function, from adding an A-through-Z index to a “hot topics” page, McGinnis Porter said. The old site was “cumbersome” and finding some information was difficult, she said. Still, McGinnis Porter said the new website is experiencing a few hiccups. “I am going to ask the public to be patient with us as we move forward. We launched, and we are finding mistakes and bugs as we go, and we are correcting them as quickly as we can,” she said. “It’s a work in progress, and it will continue to be a work in progress. Our goal is to make it easier to provide information and to keep it current.” Contact Daniel J. Chacón at 9863089 or dchacon@sfnewmexican.com.
Meat company expands recall WINDSOR, Colo. — A Windsor meat company is expanding a recall of meat and poultry that was produced in unsanitary conditions. The U.S. Agriculture Department announced the expanded recall Monday. There have no reports of illness from the recalled products. The additional recalled products can be identified by the establishment number “Est. 20309” inside the USDA Mark of Inspection. The products were produced between April 1, 2013, and Dec. 5, 2013, and can be identified by four-digit Julian dates ranging between 3091 and 3339. The products were sold in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The Associated Press
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