Governmental relationships are important in every small community, but especially important in Los Alamos and White Rock. Our County is bordered on all sides by DOE, US Forest Service, Schools, Santa Fe County, and Pueblo lands. One of our major roads into Los Alamos (Trinity Drive) is actually a State highway (NM 502). Likewise, State Rd 4 also runs through the community of White Rock. Plus, we're greatly impacted by activities at the national level by those programs or mandates which affect Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), an integral part of our community. That's why the County Council has adopted a strategic goal -- "Improve Intergovernmental Relations" -- to strengthen relationships with all of the various entities around the County's borders, and across Northern New Mexico. A key part of achieiving this goal is the County's on-going efforts under its "Progress through Partnering" program.
What is "Progress Through Partnering?"
It's an alliance to address regional needs across Northern New Mexico!
In the fall of 2005, County staff, Council Leadership and Representative Jeannette Wallace began an initiative with other regional entities to discuss utilizing some of the potential increased gross receipts taxes arising from the change in Los Alamos National Lab’s taxable status.
The partners are: City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, City of Espanola, Rio Arriba County, Town of Taos and Taos County.
On February 14, 2006, the Council adopted a list of “Guiding Principles” on utilizing gross receipts taxes on projects that would enhance regional partnerships and further approved strategic goals with a regional context. Additionally, on August 12, 2006, the Council approved using up to $1.5 million annually of the gross receipts tax revenue for these regional initiatives.
With the assistance of the staff from the North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD), the County has been able to build consensus among the various governing bodies of the participating entities. All entities signed cooperative agreements, which were approved by Los Alamos County Council at their March 20, 2007 meeting. Each cooperative agreement carries a five-year term limit and designates the regional projects for the first year. Project initiatives cover four areas: transit, indigent health care, developing and executing a Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI) and support for the Espanola Basin Regional Planning Issues Forum (EBRPIF).
Learn more about REDI when you link to this external webpage sponsored by the County's contractor, the Regional Development Corporation.