Title
Consider 2017 State Legislative Agenda Item to Address the Taxable Status of a New Managing Entity at LANL
Recommended Action
I Move That Council Direct the Regional & State Legislative Committee to Include an Item That Addresses the Taxable Status of a New Managing Entity at LANL Within the 2017 State Legislative Agenda.
Body
At the February 2, 2016 Regular Session meeting, County Council unanimously approved the 2016 (FY17) Federal Agenda. The Agenda is used as a guide for our intergovernmental efforts at the federal level. The Agenda is developed by Council’s Federal Legislative Committee that meets to produce the message and recommended priority topics. The Council-approved 2016 Federal Agenda, as amended, is attached.
The first priority listed on the 2016 Agenda states LANL Contract Rebid: Select For-Profit Company. The request being made within this priority states Maintain Tax Base: A for profit institution must be given priority for managing LANL. This priority and request was a main talking point for the contingent of County Councilors that traveled to Washington D.C. in February 2016 to meet with the New Mexico congressional delegation and staff in the Department of Energy - National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA).
DOE/NNSA indicated that they have no preference with respect to the taxable status of any new institution selected to manage LANL. They also acknowledged that GRT is a qualified expense for the laboratory’s operations. Congressional delegation staff have shared in subsequent conversations that the taxable status of the institution managing LANL is a State rather that Federal issue. The purpose of this agenda item is to provide direction to Council’s Regional & State Committee on this priority as it relates to the development of the 2017 State Legislative Agenda.
The justification for this priority outlined within the 2016 Federal Agenda also applies to Council’s State Agenda. The County’s ability to continue...
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