Discussion Topic: Education
Questioning APS Maintenance Freeze on KOAT Channel 7
Recently, RGF President Paul Gessing wrote an "open letter" to the APS administration regarding their defeat in the recent bond/tax hike election and their decision to freeze spending on facility maintenance. Among other things I noted that APS' budget allocates...
read moreGessing sits down with KRQE Channel 13 on APS tax hike election results
The Rio Grande Foundation fought hard against a big property tax hike. As it turned out, voters who turned out in record numbers, agreed with us that the 19% increase was too much. Gessing offers his reaction and the APS leadership offers theirs in the story below:
read moreTaxpayers win big in defeat of APS tax hikes
Proving once again that no matter who voters elect to office, they don't necessarily support higher taxes and vast increases in the size and scope of government, Albuquerque Public Schools district voters overwhelmingly turned down two tax hikes and a bond measure...
read moreAPS tax hike election concludes Tuesday: Gessing on KOB TV, the selfish pro-tax hike crowd
Ballots in the the mail-in Albuquerque Public Schools election must be returned to the County Clerk's office by tomorrow (February 5). If you haven't mailed your ballot in you can head down to the Clerk's office downtown in person. RGF president Paul Gessing had one...
read moreComparing APS spending with other regional districts
Whether it is the push to increase education spending at the state level or the plan to raise property taxes to fund more buildings and other capital outlay projects, the push for more spending is based on the misguided belief that the schools simply don't have enough...
read moreLegislature faces both peril, opportunity in 2019
With New Mexico’s politics trending hard left, what is a fiscally conservative think tank that focuses on New Mexico’s still-shaky economic situation to do? Quite simply, there will be more to do than ever. For starters, New Mexico’s $1.1 billion oil-generated surplus...
read moreAPS tax increase: Is it worth it? No
Ballots for the Albuquerque Public Schools special mail-in election are showing up in mailboxes. Voters have until Feb. 5 to mail their ballots back to ensure they are counted. Voters should beware that they will be asked to vote on a major property tax increase this...
read moreBallots for the Albuquerque Public Schools property tax hike are in the mail: RGF president Paul Gessing sat down with KOB TV to discuss
RGF president Paul Gessing sat down with KOB TV to discuss the tax increase for Albuquerque Public Schools. Ballots are in the mail.
read moreMartinez will leave state better than she found it
After eight years of Republican Gov. Susana Martinez in office, what is her legacy? She was the first Latina governor in America soon to be followed by Michelle Lujan-Grisham who will be the 2nd Latina to hold that position. By itself, this is an important legacy for...
read moreGessing talks APS tax hike (and he and others question their fancy mailing) w/ KOAT Channel 7:
Click on the screen shot below or here for a link to the full story.
read moreAPS spends $25,000 on new pro-tax-hike mailers: RGF comments
If you have followed the Rio Grande Foundation over the years, you may know that we have repeatedly expressed concerns about taxpayer-financed lobbying for higher taxes. See past articles here and here. Now, Albuquerque Public Schools has spent $25,000 (in addition to...
read moreFollowing ‘blue tsunami,’ what’s next for NM’s free-market movement?
COMMENTARY: The Rio Grande Foundation is a nonpartisan organization, but like so many other New Mexicans we followed the recent election closely and were surprised by the “blue tsunami” that hit our state. As a policy-driven organization, we look forward, not back....
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