Deadline April 4 for Portales mail-in election

PORTALES — City residents have until April 4 to weigh in on the expansion of existing tax funds for economic development in Portales.

Ordinance No. 737, the only item on the city’s first mail-in only ballot for a special election in years, does not increase taxes but broadens their use.

Adopted in January by the Portales city council, the ordinance “amends existing code to expand the uses of Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) funds that assist the community in attracting businesses into Portales or improving businesses in Portales (not just industry),” according to a message Thursday from city clerk Joan Martinez-Terry.

According to the ballot, it would include “retail business, arts and cultural districts, and cultural facilities as being eligible to utilize revenues generated by the Municipal Local Options Gross Receipt Taxes Act.”

The ordinance also specifies that new businesses being incentivized through the LEDA funds need to fill needs not already served in the community rather than creating competition with existing entities.

“It is truly brought in to fill the void we have in our community,” city manager Sammy Standefer told The News.

Portales is one of the first municipalities statewide to pursue the ordinance ever since it was expanded from communities with populations under 10,000 to those under 35,000, Roosevelt County Economic Development Director Bill Hendrickson told The News on Tuesday.

“Any small town probably has the same problem,” he said. “You don’t really want to create competition. It’s really designed to help communities that have lost their grocery store, for instance.”

Or perhaps for communities that lack a bowling alley, arcade or arts gallery and could use one, he explained.

Prospective new businesses would be evaluated for their anticipated local economic impact, including job creation, in a five-year period before receiving funds. Previous LEDA funds, which come from a portion of sales tax revenue, have gone toward the Portales Inn and a brewery.

Approximately 5,900 mail-in ballots were sent to registered voters in the population of Portales city residents. Of those, 289 were returned as of Friday while three came back “unsigned” and 197 were undeliverable, according to Deputy City Clerk Veda Urioste. The undeliverable ballots may apply to those registered voters who didn’t update a change of address, she said.

Those wishing to verify their ballot was received or request one if it didn’t come in the mail already can contact the city clerk office at 575-356-6662.

Ballots must be received via mail or at the city clerk office by 7 p.m. on April 4th.