AI Summary:
“New Mexico’s Transportation Department plans to propose a 25-35% increase in vehicle registration fees and a new surcharge for electric vehicles to raise funds for road repairs. This proposal aims to address rising construction costs and declining revenues. Transportation Secretary Ricky Serna highlighted the need for these changes to maintain infrastructure, as fuel efficiency standards are reducing gas tax revenues significantly.”
Unfortunately it feels like 25-35% of the drivers I see aren’t registered, period.
This wouldn’t effect them.
I know, I meant that the need for a fee hike feels like it’s coming at the cost of other folks not paying their share.
I have a dry sense of humor.
But yah. That’s literally always and everywhere how things work. People who do pay, over-pay for those who don’t. Car insurance has a specific additional coverage for when the person “at fault” isn’t insured. Most stores have “shrinkage” rates of around 2-5%. Which means everyone pays that much extra to cover the cost of theft.
Registration has become pretty cheap in comparison, I don’t think its changed much since at least 2018. Why don’t they consider applying higher sales tax to vehicle purchases instead of the 3% there is now? You would think:
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It would generate more immediate revenue
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It would hit poor people much less than regressive registration fees
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It would especially hit expensive EVs which are heavy because of big batteries and therefore contribute to road maintenance more
I wouldn’t disagree with both going up.
No increase for 7 years is a long time. It makes sense to increase it 25 or 35%.
It doesn’t make sense there should be a sales tax discount on cars. They should absolutely be the standard 5.125% +local tax.
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