When the latest round of property tax bills went out to Sandoval County residents, some expressed some sticker shock. Some homeowners even have gone so far to use the words “fraud” or “misleading,” when referring to the 4.25 mill levy increase portion of their bills that will be applied to hospital operating costs for UNMH and Presbyterian facilities.

Do these people have a valid argument, or are they just disgruntled individuals who didn’t do their homework before allowing the levy to pass? The answer to both questions is yes.

The official ballot language used in the Nov. 4, 2008 election, as printed in the Oct. 26, 2008 Election Guide in the Rio Rancho Observer, is vague about whether or not the money would be used for construction of the hospitals. And if that wasn’t confusing enough, even though proponents of the levy’s passage were saying the money would be for operation costs, an advertisement in that same Election Guide, paid for by Building Hospitals For Sandoval County Committee, read, “Through a moderate property tax increase, equating to just 4.25 mills annually, the Sandoval County Hospitals Mill Levy will ensure the construction, operation and maintenance of Presbyterian Rio Rancho Medical Center and UNM Sandoval County Regional Medical Center.” Of course, the word that jumps off the page in that advertisement is “construction.” While we believe it was never the intent of the hospitals to use the money for construction, and by “ensure,” the ad meant that a mill levy increase would show a commitment from residents to supporting hospitals, thereby convincing investors to finance construction, we also believe the message wasn’t clear enough.

That failure of communication lays at the feet of the hospitals and the levy’s supporters. However, they’re not the only ones to blame: due diligence and actually showing up at the polls is always a good idea for voters. As it stands, some people have higher taxes, and hopefully as the hospitals progress, most will begin to see and appreciate the benefits.