The Roundhouse in Santa Fe (Photo by Peter St. Cyr)
New Mexico is one of nine states that doesn’t produce a regular report that tracks how much the state gives up each year to tax credits, exemptions and deductions. Both candidates for governor want to change that.
The New Mexico Independent, which has been championing the enacting of a law that would require what’s called a tax expenditure report, got both candidates on the record about the issue.
“Absolutely, transparency is very important to the citizens of New Mexico,” the Independent quoted Republican Susana Martinez as saying in response to a question about supporting tax expenditure reports. “They want to know where their tax dollars are or aren’t going. And they want to make sure they understand where the tax incentives are going. Transparency is important.”
Democrat Diane Denish was quoted by the Independent as saying this:
“I support increased transparency with regard to all of government’s workings and tax transparency is no exception. I believe the Sunshine Portal, which I fought to pass and signed into law, is a perfect repository for all government information and as governor I would expand the Sunshine Portal to include all information regarding how taxpayer dollars are spent.”