May 6, 2019

Notice Regarding Village of Taos Ski Valley

Tax Increment Development District Special Election

To Elect Two Board Members

-CANCELLATION OF ELECTION-

Recent legislative amendments to the New Mexico Election Code have resulted in significant changes to Special Election procedures. These amendments affect the election procedures governing the Taos Ski Valley Tax Increment Development District (“TIDD”) and require that the election to elect two Members to the TIDD Board, presently scheduled for June 4, 2019, be cancelled and rescheduled.

The changes to the New Mexico Election Code are embodied in House Bill 407. The New Mexico Legislature passed this bill during its 2019 legislative session, and Governor Lujan-Grisham signed it into law on April 3, 2019. Provisions in the legislation made it effective immediately. The amendments to the Election Code no longer allow the TIDD to conduct its own Special Election to elect its Board Members. Instead, the new Code requires that TIDD Board Member elections be conducted through the Taos County Bureau of Elections biennially on the first Tuesday in November in odd years. 

The new law has also changed the qualifications for eligibility to vote in a TIDD Board Member election. The election is open only to “qualified resident electors.”  This means that, to be eligible to vote in a Board Member Election, a person must be a registered voter and a resident within the boundaries of the TIDD.  Property ownership within the boundaries of the TIDD still qualifies a person or entity to vote in a TIDD formation election, but it no longer qualifies for eligibility to vote in a TIDD Board Member Election. 

The TIDD Clerk is in the process of sorting through the Election Code amendments in order to ensure that the election to elect two Board Members is properly rescheduled. Candidates for the two TIDD Board positions must resubmit their declarations of candidacy. The TIDD Clerk, in conjunction with the Office of the Secretary of State, will reissue notice of application for candidacy at a later date, once a new election schedule is established.

Sincerely,

Neal King, TIDD Board Chairperson                                     Ann M. Wooldridge, TIDD Clerk