Socorro County Looks To Pressure State For Tax Sale

By John Severance

SOCORRO – The County of Socorro has not had a tax sale in more than a decade and treasurer Genevie Baca said that 6.5 percent of all the parcels of real property are delinquent.
The County Commissioners Tuesday night passed a resolution that requested and demanded the Department of Taxation and Revenue to perform its statutory duty to collect delinquent taxes, and hold a tax foreclosure sale of Socorro County parcels within the calendar year.
“The county has not had a tax sale in 15 years,” said County attorney Adren Nance. “We don’t have the authority to hold one. It’s up to the state.”
Commissioner R.J. Griego added, “We need to put pressure on the state to hold a sale.”
In other business, the Commission appointed Betsy Francois of Socorro, Tony Jaramillo of Socorro and Maria Smith-Vega of Polvadera to the Senior Advisory Board.
County manager Delilah Walsh said the City of Socorro will make an appointment at the City Council meeting March
15.
Walsh also detailed in her manager’s report her fight for funding for the renovation of Veteran’s Park.
“We have been arguing with DFA since November that this MOU should have protected those funds ($90,000).
“However, DFA has determined that the intergovernmental agreement (with the City of Socorro) was not enough to protect the funds. I think the funds will be reverted back to the state. The County was able to protect $80,000 in other park funds.
“Since we don’t get the $90,000 back, we can use these funds to leverage our application for Scenic Byway funds. I am waiting on letters of support from the Mayor, the DAV and the Isidro Baca Park Committee so I can submit it.”
The Commission also passed a number of resolutions.
• Since the President of the United States has eliminated funding for the USDA’s Resources Conservation and Development Program for the upcoming year, the commission passed a resolution that would support the RC & D program.
• Approved the Road Department LGRF Project Proposals for the upcoming year.
• Considered the Bosquecito Road Project.
• Requested publishing of the tire import ordinance.

Socorro County Looks To Pressure State For Tax Sale