Holiday

This author thought you might want to know, although it is no shock, this author voting for Mr. Holiday.

Yes, you will know this author's home by the sign on the front fence.

And now, if you don't know where the districts begin and end for any election, here is one way to find out.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=NM&district=1

Did anyone get the mailing from Councilor Wallace? No one on this street did. This author has heard there is a mailing out though. Let's see, will anyone share what she is promising to do this time around?

Federal Law

Here is some information about the Federal Law just for you all about housing issues.

http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/FHLaws/index.cfm

There is too much here for this author to share in a worthwhile way. Please. Go read for yourself.

Ponder This.

Something to read. Even if you think the assisted living home idea is a good one, read this.

http://www.smartmoney.com/consumer/index.cfm?story=200104192

Just two small points:

1. We promise more than we can deliver. The biggest misconception consumers have about assisted living is that once their loved one is accepted into one of these facilities, he or she will live there for a very long time — perhaps avoiding a nursing home altogether. But nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the average resident stays only two years. Why? The assisted-living business model was never intended to provide care for frail and sickly seniors. When they get that way — as they inevitably do — many facilities will insist that they leave. In fact, state law often requires it.

8. We stop spending once our beds are full. From our research, we found that the newer the facility the better the maintenance and care. Why? Companies need to fill their beds.

And when their beds are full? You got it, it starts to look worse.

A Solemn Memorial Day

One can simply not thank those who have been willing/are willing to lose their lives for the standards of liberty, justice, freedom, and more.

While Memorial day is meant only to honor those who have died while serving this country, this author wishes to thank all who have served and are serving in the armed services.

You will know who this author is when you see someone saying the pledge or singing the anthem, this author is one of those with tears going down the face. One simply should not forget the sacrifices, the divine intervention and personal dedication our early forefathers had when forming this country.

This same supreme dedication has been demonstrated in the past in times of great need and war is demonstrated daily by many of our men in uniform now.


http://www.history.com/minisites/memorial/

Some Thoughts

The following is by "the Flash". In the interest of ease in reading, this author is leaving this well written comment in black.

http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2008/05/councilor-wallace-is-not-thinking.html

The constant and inconsistent pandering by Wallace to anyone she thinks can help her is most blatant and transparent. She need only to look at our neighbor to the north, Santa Fe , to find another situation in which the privileged are screwing the natives out of their rights. How many native SFers live there anymore...because of property taxes. We have, here in Bosque Farms, many resources that the officials are too lazy or too self absorbed to recognize. Economic development? Sure leave it to a government employee to head up the committee. He doesn't even have to think about money in real life...the gov't just sends more. How are we gonna get real here? The meth crisis, real or imagined, is over in town, or at least the officials seem to have changed focus. Too busy defending themselves in court? We need pros here, not the self absorbed yahoos we now have. Crisis after crisis to keep the citizens away from reality,the ineptitude of our local government. I truly want to find some answers and stop the complaining...HELP...how do we get them to listen? All I hear is " Join the Fair Board"

Just Great

Now isn't this lovely. Not only will we end up with an assisted living place right on the Boulevard we will end up not recieving much in the way or property tax.

Look. How much sense does that make? The Council wants to raise our property tax (which is going to happen) and yet they want to put a busines in the residential area of Bosque Farms. Not only will this business most likely impact property values, it will pay limited property values.

For the sake of honesty: this article, quoted below, comes from Ohio and it may not be completely applicable here. It seems to depend on what state law says about property values and how to determine what a business like this might pay.

Courts have found that where the given property physically resembles an apartment building, appraisers should value assisted living properties as if they were apartment buildings. Using market rental, expense, and occupancy rates for apartments, while disregarding the actual operations of the particular home, appraisers can determine a value for the real estate alone. However, facilities that do not meet the physical characteristics of apartments can create a problem.

For example, some assisted living facilities contain mostly one-room suites with limited bathroom and kitchen facilities. These homes are common area intensive and resemble hotels. Where an argument cannot be made to value the home as an apartment, (which removes most of the non-real estate value and results in the lowest value) an argument can be made to value the property as a limited service or extended stay lodging facility. By appraising the facility as a limited service or extended stay hotel, you can reduce the amount of service value associated with the appraisal.

http://www.aptcnet.com/articles/how_reduce_property_taxes.htm

Well we will at least get GRT right?

A Challenge from "the Flash".

Although I deeply believe in karma, it sometimes takes too long. It appears as if another knee jerk project is about to get rolling because we've been sleeping[Thanks, BG, for your wakefulness]Folks, we really need some kind of organization...all this talk is very informative and thank goodness you are here whether we agree or not. But it is our duty to get involved. The lack of concern for our citizenry has become blatant. Another police story from a burglary on Wasmer Circle a month past. The homeowner was told by the investigating detective " We're not CSI" when fingerprints on the jimmied patio door were visible. She is afraid to report the incident because her 12 year old must live and move about our community. LET'S COME OUT OF HIDING....I've had enough. Where do we shed our disguises and work for a better village...How? I'll be the first. What can they do? Send me to VietNam? Been there for 40 years at this point. See ya at the council meetings. Let's make a difference.

http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2008/05/meeting-and-update.html

*Emphasis by this author.

Told You So

Here are several posts this author has made, among many many posts, about the budget, taxes, savings and lack of savings on the Village's behalf.


http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2006/01/village-of-bosque-farms-and-budget.html

Just as recently as March this year this author pointed out: A great audit does not mean that the Council is prepared for emergencies, saving funds for a rainy day or generally thinking ahead.

http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2008/03/great-audit.html


Here the author pointed out that Bosque Farms had a larger percentage of the budget than surrounding communities going towards police related expenses. Think about it. If they are doing that in one small department, where else is there fluff? This author has told you this all along.

http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2007/12/some-more-information-budget-and.html

http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2007/12/more-comparisons-for-budget.html

This push to raise taxes has been in the works for some time now. Councilor Knowlton ran on a platform of "I'll Raise your Water Rates". He spoke of raising water rates from day one of his political career. And now not only will your water rates be raised but so will your gross reciept taxes, your property taxes and who knows what else.

Thanks a lot Councilors. Thanks a lot Mayor. Thanks a lot Miss who doesn't live in this town who runs the village. Thanks. Thanks for not saving. Thanks for not thinking ahead. Thanks for spending our money and not planning for this day.

Councilor Wallace is Not Thinking

It appears Councilor Wallace needs to have the law explained to her. This lady who so loudly proclaims she's 'trained' doesn't understand you can't pick and choose who to levy property taxes against.


Here is the real question she needs to be asking:


How can we save money!??


How can I protect those people I'm speaking about?


How do I help the Seniors who can't make enough money to cover these increases we are talking about?



Why can't the budget be balanced?



Why is there not enough money?

From the Newspaper article about the budget:

We do have people here who have lived here all of their lives and, to some of us sitting around the table here, $30 doesn't seem like a lot and won't make a huge difference," Wallace said. "But for them, they're already having to make some choices between medicine, fuel and food."


Jones told Wallace that it would be difficult to pick and choose who would have to pay the tax increase and that it may be in conflict with anti-donation laws.


Surely no one will vote for her to be at a County level as well right?

Poor Confused Councilor Wallace

She wants to raise property taxes

but

she wants to pick and choose who will be taxed higher.

She wants to spend money giving raises

but

She doesn't want to do the hard work of raising taxes

She wants to spend monoey

but

she can't look to the future and save.

Want to Learn More?

For those who are wondering. Would you like to learn more about this specific company?

It is not difficult to find pictures and learn more about Bee Hive Homes.

http://www.beehivehomes.com/about.php

And may this author quote from their site:
Why Bee Hive Homes?
You will never be lost in a crowd

This author includes these links so you can see what one might look like on your road:

http://www.beehivecare.com/

Did you know there is one of these in Los Lunas?

http://www.beehivehomes.com/home.php?stateid=41&cityid=151

Did you know that there are many Bee Hive Homes that are licenced for a lower number of people. They look more house like both inside and out and less business like? It's a thought, but regardless, a business is a business.

By the way. Did you know that the man who is trying to put these homes in once used to live here?

The Senior Homes Business

This author doesn't think the Village is thinking about this completely. Do they not realize that they will lose this property tax that they are working hard to increase right now?

Eventually these homes will hurt property value. Additionally, without running the numbers, wouldn't it be better to run the numbers and see for themselves? Is it worth more to keep homes that are large and pay property tax or is it worth more to have a business like this and get the GRT?

Reader Thoughts

"Daisy says"

I really don't think it's a good idea to plant a nursing home (skilled nursing facility, retirement facility, independent living facilty, whatever you want to call it) in the middle of an irrigated parcel of land just to appease someone who has 2 of these franchised facilities in Los Lunas when residents aren't allowed to build a guesthouse on their own property for their own aging parents?

and "El Tigre" said

If this goes through we will have established a precedent. The next thing we will get is a proposal for a retirement complex. Then one for affordable housing. On and on it will go. When we say "no" to one of them or even the next one after the beehive is built, there will be a lawsuit claiming discriminatory zoning practices. The district court will rule we have an established precedent allowing high density housing and VIOLA we are forced to allow apartments and condos. This should NOT be allowed.

These are both well said and well thought out. If the readers of this blog can see that and the people who live here are upset about this issue, why do it? This author hopes the Council listens.

http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2008/05/meeting-and-update.html

The Meeting and an update

Be prepared. The lot this is going to be on is about 4 and a 1/2 acres. On that lot there will be a total of 7 homes with 16 people living in each unit. One of those homes will be double gated for alzheimers patients. The whole community will be a gated community. (This author did the math for you 112 people total. ) The only entrance will be off of North Loop.

What else? Let's see. There was some discussion that was not completely based on facts but more of a 'in our experience' type of argument for why this should be allowed.

If you read the planning and zoning laws it says only one home per lot, but special use appears to be just that: Special. If it meets some minimum requirement then per the Village Councilors you can have more than one home on a lot.

It was stressed that this was not a retirement home. It is an assisted living home. The gentleman doing the presentation noted that many of the seniors in his homes do not drive. (Ok, this author interjects, but even if a quarter of them did...) He also stated that many of these seniors are placed in these homes and never visited again thus, the argument goes, cutting down on the traffic.

So there it is folks. There won't be ambulances and sirens because this is assisted living not a senior care center, not a medical home. There won't be traffic. There won't be cars because this is an assisted living home that means they probably won't want to drive and no one will visit them (them being those living in this place). So the 112 people with 7 homes (which is an increase in the original proposal) is a good thing. And to top it all of you can have horses or you can have 112 people on 4 acres and get GRT.

What?

Did this author hear correctly?

Of course, there were people talking and of course Mayor Ake gaveled them, but did Mayor Ake say that people should be coming to meetings all the time and not just to the meetings that they thought were important? Surely this author didn't hear that correctly or missed part of the discussion.

It almost sounds as if you don't come to meetings until something is important to you that your opinion doesn't count when you do show up.

For Shame.

Mayor Ake! This author is shocked and this author expected more than that from you. Surely, someone, please tell this author that this is not what Mayor Ake had in mind. "El Tigre"? "Chlorophobic"?

Some Things To Think About

Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is
legalized robbery.

~Calvin Coolidge

______________________________________

The politicians say "we" can't afford a tax cut.
Maybe we can't afford the politicians.

~Steve Forbes

Cost Of Living Increases

There are many ways to figure out a cost of living increase. One way is just to do a standard number every year. For instance, Bosque Farms Village seems to just add 3% to the employees check and call that the Cost of Living Raise.

Other ways include looking at a national average.

http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/latestCOLA.html

Look 2.3% here with Social Security. That would a fine way of measuring Cost of Living Increases. Social Security certainly puts a lot of time and effort into their figurings right? Certainly more than the Village Government does.

There are even ways to figure out the Cost of Living increase.

http://www.opm.gov/retire/html/faqs/2008cola.asp

But really. If the Village is as broke as they are saying in the news paper, doesn't it make sense that they would at least say 'run the numbers' before they just approve a cost of living increase? Of course not. After all, each one of us reading this blog and living here in this Village is worth $30 or more per home.

Guess Who

Guess which councilor is known for yelling at employees? Guess which Councilor is known for expecting employees to go jumping at her say so and getting angry when they don't? Who has timed the police response times when she has called for the police?

Uh. The same Councilor who is running for County Commissioner.

Doesn't she understand this is the Mayor's responsibility?

She doesn't know what her purview is or she doesn't care. Either way this is not the type of person this author would want representing me in a political office.

Welcome "daisy" Thanks for the Info.

A P&Z meeting was scheduled for 4pm today in regards to the planned nursing home/assisted living/commercial endeavor to overcharge elderly people for what is promoted as "Bee Hive Homes Assisted Living". The current owners of the Los Lunas facilities see a wonderful opportunity to turn Bob James' place into a franchised BeeHive Home.They plan on placing 3 homes on the acreage and have 45 or so clients living in the homes. Some info from their website:
Facts about your Bee Hive Home Franchise
Below is a summary of the costs associated with owning a Bee Hive Homes Franchise.

FEES
The initial Franchise fee is $50,000 when you sign the franchise agreement.
The term of the franchise is 10 years, with the right to renew.
Multiple unit territories are available.
The Royalty Fee, is based on gross revenues and is 5% for the life of the contract.
PROJECT TOTAL COSTS RANGE FROM $425,000 to $700,000


These expenses include the property cost and the building investment. Costs vary based on the type of home and market.

Back to the P&Z meeting that never materialized:
The people who are proposing this failed to show up at this meeting this afternoon, saying they had thought it was Thursday. P&Z sent it to the Council for Thursday night's meeting. If I were the one wanting to move forward with a franchise, I would surely appear at a special meeting that was set for 4pm instead of the usual P&Z time. How convenient is that?
Anyway, I believe a franchise is a commercial agreement. Seniors deserve a place to live but so do those who live adjacent to this area.
Yes, it does mean more traffic in the area.
It is zoned residential but I am not sure what the regulations on a franchised group home for elders is.
Council Meeting is Thursday, should be interesting.
I think there should be Assisted Living Homes all along Hiway 47 instead of the beautiful used car lots.....but not on the North Loop or South Loop or West Loop. Morrison Road is a good place for it.
Does anyone know what effect this will have on property values?

Taxes

We must care for each other more, and tax each other less.
~Bill Archer

We should care about each other. Every person each other. We should not care just about the elderly or the horse owner or the child. We should be caring about each person who lives in this Village.

Gas prices are on the way up and many people are having to chose between driving to town to go to the doctor or having enough money to pay for gas to get to work. This is not a choice just elderly are making Councilor Wallace but everyone- mothers, fathers, single parents and married, horse owners and dog owners and on the list goes. Everyone.

Why is the Village not looking at the budget and looking at the employees and saying 'go and cut out 5%'. Simple.

3-5%. That is akin to the Councilors cutting out on coffee from Starbucks or cutting out cokes from their grocery bills, renting instead of buying movies etc. Let the average man look at the budget and they will find some place there is fluff. Cut out the number of mosquito sprays, quit painting the walk path stripes, quit buying new large most expensive police cars, quit training the police on new firearms they don't use and the list goes on.

The problem is that these Councilors don't hurt. Councilor Wallace is not hooked up to water so she doesn't care if the water rates go up. Same with Councilor Proctor. They don't care about you and I.

This author thinks they are not thinking about us, those of us who live here.
This author will say that what this means is that those who do shop in Bosque Farms may not shop as much in this community. Why bother, just down the road will be a cheaper option.

Los Lunas School Leads by Example

Gibson and Guggino explained that the district's current projections have the district with revenues of $62,929,266 for 2008-09 but expenses of $65,972,786.

They said they'll bring up the budget for approval at the next board meeting on Tuesday, May 13. The budget the district staff presented Tuesday will bring the district's finances into the black by a slim margin of $11,233 but will require the district to eliminate 30 teaching positions.

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/79992-05-10-08.html

Now, please, don't quote this author wrong. No one wants to see 30 teacher eliminated, even when that just simply means they don't replace the outgoing retired personnel. But look at Los Lunas. They said 'oh shoot, there is an overage in expenses' and they looked at the budget and they cut it.

They even began having the discussion about where can we eliminate? They looked at different places, different schools, and even different options.

They discussed the bottom line - educating the children- and they looked at the biggest parts of the budget and now they are doing the difficult work.

Board president Frank Otero agreed to a certain extent but said staff cuts might be a necessity, not simply an option.

"Considering that 85 percent of our budget is in personnel, I think we have no alternative but to look at those areas," he said.

Now, why can't the Council do that? Discuss what the bottom line is- what is it they were elected to do- what is it that needs to happen with the money and look at where the bulk of the money goes and cut cut cut???

MEETING TONIGHT

"MySay" had this important news to share. Anyone in this area might want to attend the meeting. In fact, anyone who doesn't want to lose their residential status might want to show up in support of keeping residential areas residential.

According to the News-Bulletin, dated May 10, 2008, under the "On the Agenda" section, the Bosque Farms Planning & Zoning Commission will be meeting on Monday, May 12, at the Village Hall, to have a "special meeting to discuss a request from Lawrence K. Skelley to change the zoning from Single-Family Residential to Special Use at 530 Valle Drive and 435 & 455 N. Bosque Loop to develop, construct and operate an assisted independent living complex."

Does that mean more traffic in that area? Have the surrounding neighbors been surveyed regarding such a possibility? Is this a possible pay-back for the developer's support during this last election? So many questions!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

A mother is

a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people,

promptly announces she never did care for pie.

~Tenneva Jordan

Councilor Proctor Understands - Sorta

This author is shocked that Councilor Proctor gets the idea that a property tax is a short term solution to a long term problem. Bravo.

Councilor Virgil Proctor voiced his concern about the proposed property tax increase and said he would not support it. He said he feels that property owners are already paying too much and that the mill levy would be a temporary solution to the village's financial problems.

This author is saddened though that even Councilor Proctor did not once say 'we'll have to focus on cutting out the fluff, he just suggested cutting services or raising taxes elsewhere. Come on Councilor Proctor, think about it.

"I think we're going to either have to cut some services or focus on increasing the gross receipt taxes as well as the water and sewer rates," Proctor said. "This (property taxes) is something that should not increase because they (residents) don't have any control over it."

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/79820-05-03-08.html

This author will give you a few hints.
You don't give cost of living raises at 3% when the national average is 2.3%. You don't give the police a budget large enough to buy nice new expensive cars. You certainly don't give them a budget to paint their new cars with a new paint design. (An ugly one at that too!). You don't let the officers patrol Peralta (Cost of gas, spreading themselves thinner etc).

Need more?
Readers. Let's help Councilor Proctor out a bit. This author bets you are aware of 'fluff' in the budget.

Taxes

So in order to raise taxes the Village will increase property taxes, gross reciept taxes, water rates and even sewer rates. Amazing.

This author has pointed out to you the road the Councilors were going down several times in the past.

Do tell. Where has the money gone?
Look around you. What do you see?

• Are you safer? Do you see more police on the road? Are the police the Village hires better?


• Is there less crime?


• Is the fire department paid?


• Are your streets nicer? Are they top of the line with no potholes?


• Is there anything new around you? A library addition? A pool, such as some of the candidates promised? A sports complex?


• Are there less weeds? Less wild dogs?

Ok. This author will give you that one; there is a new little league field at the park. One. Paid for by the state.

• Has economic development helped? Has there been an increase in new businesses? Has there been an increase in new businesses that give the Village GRT?


• What promises did they make and keep as politicians?

What has been done? Do tell.

Pigs, A Good Animal

Pigs are actually pretty good animals it appears. This author has decided that maybe instead of shunning the pigs we should be welcoming them to Bosque Farms. Maybe it's a future market for the economic development angle too.

http://gizmodo.com/372617/pig-bladder-powder-regrows-fingers


You can see pictures here at this link:


http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/04/30/2008-04-30_man_regrew_finger__with_pig_powder.html

Taxes

It has taken this author some time to get ready to post this but let this author be the first to say on this website: You were told.

You were told by this author that if the Council continued to spend money and give raises and not save that this day would come. And now it is here. The Council is talking about raising property rates, water rates, sewer rates and possible even tax rates on goods and services within the Village.

Two things stand out in this article: One: NOT ONCE, Not one mention of cutting back on the budget. Not once did any Councilor say 'hey, maybe we should not spend as much'. Not once. Two: They agreed to give a three percent raise to the employees.

Hm.

http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/79820-05-03-08.html

Define It

Lobbying

There are a lot of definitions for this word that you can find online. However they all run about the same. Lobbying is essentially when you try to influence an elected official to either pass or not pass a bill.

Communication with elected officials or their staff, which expresses a position on a pending piece of legislation.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&start=0&oi=define&q=http://www.npaction.org/article/articleview/381/1/227&usg=AFQjCNHkaPAqpFKeJV5_T5D1QDo8GC5E3w

Employing persons to influence state and federal legislators to sponsor laws that further one's own interest or inhibit those of one's opponents.
www.crfonline.org/orc/glossary/l.htm


Similarly there are a lot of definitions for a lobbyist. However, they also all pretty much mean the same thing. Someone who tries to influence (or lobby) on behalf of a position on a bill and is paid for doing so.

A term for any number of activities that attempt to influence the passage or defeat of legislation or administrative rules and regulations. LOBBYIST— Paid professionals who perform the role of “educator” for both the legislators, as well as an individual or organization that has employed them.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&start=5&oi=define&q=http://www.ocsea.org/politicalaction/glossary.asp&usg=AFQjCNGl3YxZBE4vuLPr3SpWzFh_KKjPtQ

Sitting in the Lobby

"El Tigre" Felt the need to correct this author about what a lobbyist is and what is lobbying.

A side note.... Lobbying is when citizens seek change in the legislative process by direct contact with government officials. Government officials contacting each other about legislative change isn't typically considered lobbying. She is simply doing her job.

Yet another smart reader posted his/her understanding of what a lobbyist is and does.

Last thought - I disagree completely. Lobbying is the attempt to influence or sway someone toward a desired action. Of course, government officials "lobby" each other. Lobbying isn't just about "change in the legislative process." There are paid lobbyist who go out and hunt money for different groups. I think the Village has even paid for one in the past. Not for legislative change mind you - for funding.

This author will confirm that the Village has paid for a lobbyist to lobby on our behalf. That almost sounds as if Councilor Wallace wasn't doing her job. She was doing the lobbying on behalf of the rodeo arena while she paid someone to lobby for money for Bosque Farms. Oh yea, this is who I want sitting at the County too.

Poor Confused Councilor Wallace

She wants to have credit for doing her job
but
she doesn't do her job, she pays someone else to do it.

http://bfgovernment.blogspot.com/2008/04/looking-for-clarification.html