44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

REQUESTING A STUDY OF ALTERNATIVES TO THE WEIGHT DISTANCE TAX AND A REPORT OF STUDY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE REVENUE STABILIZATION AND TAX POLICY COMMITTEE.

WHEREAS, New Mexico is one of only four states that continue to impose a weight distance or similar tax on motor carriers; and

WHEREAS, there are greater opportunities for evasion of a weight distance tax than other forms of taxation such as registration fees or fuel taxes; and

WHEREAS, the legislature is particularly concerned about not increasing the tax burden on carriers domiciled in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, replacing the weight distance tax would relieve the additional compliance burdens currently borne by the motor carrier industry and the enforcement and audit burdens of the taxation and revenue department; and

WHEREAS, any alternative proposed must assure at least as much revenue as the weight distance tax produced for the state road fund; and

WHEREAS, to reach an acceptable alternative proposal, the parties involved must include representatives of the New Mexico motor carriers association, the state highway and transportation department, the taxation and revenue department and the New Mexico petroleum marketers association;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that a study of alternatives to the weight distance tax be undertaken by the New Mexico motor carriers association, with the participation of the secretaries of taxation and revenue and highway and transportation or their designees and representatives of the New Mexico petroleum marketers association; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study participants report their finding and recommendations regarding alternatives to the weight distance tax to the revenue stabilization and tax policy committee no later than November 1, 2000; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be given to the chairman of the revenue stabilization and tax policy committee, the New Mexico motor carriers association, the New Mexico petroleum marketers association and the secretaries of taxation and revenue and highway and transportation.