It was called a tax, a service fee, a cost of service fee and a franchise fee. What ever you call it, the $6.00 was being touted as too much for many people on a fixed income and by some, as simply wrong.
The city of Raton however, was saying it was needed in order to help keep current levels of service at the fire department and police department. The money was going to be used to keep three positions filled at the fire department and two at the police department. The remainder would be used elsewhere.
Concerned citizens collected enough signatures to force the city commission to put the question to a vote by the citizens of Raton, instead of the commission voting it in. This Tuesday (September 3) voters went to the poles and voted the fee down. These results are unofficial.
Absentee 72 Against 97 For
Convention Center 170 Against 168 For
St Patricks 199 Against 85 For
Total
441 Against the fee
350 For the fee
