The Council approved their legislative agenda during their Council meeting on Dec. 1, 2009. The State Legislative Committee develops the agenda each fall, then takes it to Council to approve. Councilors Stover, Wismer and Chiravalle are on the committee.

The primary focus during the next legislative session which begins January 19, 2010, will be on the state's budget. Although the Council realizes that capital funding may not be available, they did include some projects in their agenda that they hope will be funded by the legislature. They include: the Camp May fire hydrant extension, the new Visitor Information Center in White Rock, and State Rd 4 (in White Rock) road improvements.

Other items of support include: continued Park and Ride operations, widening of State Rd 4, telecommunications infrastructure, affordable housing programs, legislation proposed to swap GRT for State income tax distributions, health care policy and financing legislation, and any legislation affecting Los Alamos County
and its ability to serve citizens.

The Council expressed their intent to oppose: changes to the school funding formula, GRT on food and drugs, efforts to reduce Los Alamos GRT revenues, and legislation that would adversely impact indigent health care revenues.

Councilor Sharon Stover commented during the meeting that the New Mexico Association of Counties (NMAC) and New Mexico Municipal League (NMML) had a joint board meeting on November 20, 2009. A few of the priorities for both groups are Los Alamos support items as well. A message was clear that the State should not
balance the budget on the backs of local government.

Citizens can read the entire document by downloading the Dec. 1, 2009 council meeting agenda.