Voters Shoot Down Sports Complex North

Mail-in voters resoundingly rejected a $12 million bond issue for a sports complex in northern Rio Rancho in ballots counted Tuesday.

According to unofficial totals, voters rejected the issue 6,276 to 4,728.

The proposal was defeated overwhelmingly city-wide in each of the individual city council districts. The proposition even went down in District 6, where the complex would have been located, by a 229-vote margin. The district that gave the strongest support was District 4, where 46.9 percent of the voters were in favor.

Here is the breakdown by district:

* District 1: 382 for, 809 against = 1,191 total votes (32.1 percent for, 67.9 against).

* District 2: 601 for, 905 against. = 1,506 total votes (39.9 percent for, 60.1 against).

* District 3: 745 for, 916 against = 1,661 total votes (44,8 percent for, 55.2 against).

* District 4: 829 for, 939 against. = 1,768 total votes (46.9 percent for, 53.1 against).

*District 5: 945 for, 1,252 against = 2,197 total votes (43.0 percent for, 57.0 against).

* District 6: 1,226 for, 1,455 against = 2,681 total votes (45.7 percent for, 54.3 against.

Mayor Mike Williams expressed disappointment in the results.

"It's a shame this happened because this was for our kids, for our future," he said. "There was no tax increase involved. We will go ahead as best we can, but this will not be a priority at this point."

Williams added he was "concerned over the impact this might have on the CNM (tax boundary) election. That vote will boundary) election. That vote will determine if the downtown growth continues on a fast track or at a slower pace."

Williams said he did not think voter fatigue played a role in the result. Voters face three elections in a six-week period: the Sportsplex, CNM tax boundary and a $105 million school bond issue that passed earlier in the month.

"The (sportsplex) turnout was 27 percent, so I don't think that was it," he said.

Williams did "question whether the city did enough to promote it," noting that a film developed for the issue perhaps should have been presented at neighborhood association meetings.

Sandoval County Manager Debbie Hays said economic fears may have played a role.

"I had a gut feeling that it was going to have trouble, and I’m not sure I can explain to you why I thought that other than there are so many major issues going on right now in terms of taxes in regard to Rio Rancho with the CNM, with the potential for UNM. Those are on peoples minds," she said. "Not to mention that the (county property) tax notices have recently gone out, and while property values have gone up the tax rates have gone down so the net change to people’s taxes is probably minimal.

"But I think that’s still on people’s minds. You get your tax bill and even though the net effect is that most people want the value of their homes to go up, we’re in the midst of this recession. They’re reading in the newspaper that homes are selling and homebuilders are having problems. I think it’s natural for people to say, 'Gee, even though I’d like to have a big nice park facility, I’m not sure we can afford it right now.'

"I don’t know that people had real good reasoning for it, but I think it’s a general feeling that maybe we need to be more cautious right now and that people are not feeling comfortable."

Todd Hathorne, the former president of the Enchanted Hills Homeowner Association who worked on park issues, blamed District 6 councilor Marilyn Salzman and city parks director Lisa Varnholt for the defeat.

“There’s a propensity in Rio Rancho that voters make you prove your case,” Hathorne said. “It was up to the District 6 councilor to perform, and she failed.”

Hathorne, who is running against Salzman for the council seat, said he was “exceedingly disappointed in Varrholt. Her failure to adhere to the master plan as discussed in District 6 to deal with an indoor pool is the basis for my disappointment.

“This is a clear message from the taxpayers of Rio Rancho that we require high quality individuals in the positions of authority.”

Neither Salzman nor Varnholz returned phone calls seeking comment.

Money generated from bonds would have been used to build five Little League fields, 15 acres of soccer fields, play areas, a small pool, walking trails and landscaping. in the Enchanted Hills area at the intersection of Chayote and Lincoln roads.

The election results are unofficial until certifited by a canvass board on Friday.