Curry commission approves resolution opposing legislative bill

The Curry County Commission is staunchly opposing a legislative bill it believes detrimental to the county’s financial bottom line.

“Senate Bill 451 would stop state food and medical hold harmless payments to those counties and municipalities, including Curry County, which have imposed a local option hold harmless gross receipts tax,” said Curry County Manager Lance Pyle in introducing Resolution 2017-19 in opposition of the state measure at Tuesday’s board meeting. “During fiscal year ‘16 food and medical distribution payment to Curry County was $473,485. If approved, Senate Bill 451 would result in a reduction in revenues in Curry County for fiscal year ‘18 and subsequent years of over $400,000.”

Pyle said the resolution, which was approved with a unanimous (5-0) commission vote, would also stand against any additional reduction or elimination to hold harmless gross receipts tax distributions.

“Curry County recognizes the state has a very difficult task to balance the state’s budget, and requests the state not balance on the backs of the counties,” he said. “The county is currently mandated by the state to provide office space and pay utility costs for several state offices: district court, the District Attorney’s office and Public Health Office, as well as pay over $1.4 million a year to fund state Medicaid and the state Safety Net Care program.”

In other meeting actions:

• The commission granted approval of an emergency action and evacuation plan.

“The purpose of Curry County’s Emergency Actions and Evacuation Plan is to provide fire control

and suppression equipment where needed and maximize the preservation of property and prevent loss of human life,” per the policy statement. “Despite efforts to prevent fires

and related emergencies from occurring, they occasionally happen. It has been proven the actions taken in the first few minutes can make the difference between a minor incident and a disaster. Both safety of life and to property is vital to the well-being of this county.”