Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that uses a gross receipts tax in the counties of Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe and Valencia to pay for the commuter train operations.

Highlights:

- Establishes the "commuter rail transit district": a governing body, separate from the state, overseen by a seven-member board of directors, consisting of county commissioners from each county where the train operates (Bernalillio, Sandoval, Santa Fe and Valencia), and one elected official from both the Albuquerque and Santa Fe city governments [sec. 3 & sec. 4 (a-b)]. - Requires the district to manage the planning, construction, maintenance, financing, supervision, administrative order and general wellbeing of the commuter rail system (Sec. 5). - Provides funds to finance district projects using bonds, collected through a gross tax receipts tax, that are approved by the board [sec. 8 (a)]. - Requires each county within the commuter rail transit district, upon request by resolution of the board of directors, to impose the "county commuter rail gross receipts tax": an excise tax at the rate of one-eighth of one percent of the gross receipts of any person engaging in business [sec. 16 (a)]. - Requires each governing body, within 75 days of imposing the "county commuter rail gross receipts tax," to adopt a resolution calling for a joint election to uphold or discontinue the tax. The question will be submitted to the voters at the next general election. [sec. 16 (c)]. - Establishes a fine range of $50 to $150 for failing to pay a fee, toll or rate while using the commuter rail system [sec. 6 (b)]. - Authorizes the board to hire commuter rail transit police officers to enforce commuting laws (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text