Bernalillo County residents and other people shopping in New Mexico's most populous county may be paying more in sales tax come July.
The county commissioners were divided Tuesday as they moved forwarding with setting a gross receipts tax of a quarter of a percent to raise about $40 million a year to help close a budget shortfall and pay for new mental health programs.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the commissioners split along party lines in a 3-2 vote, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed.
The county will publish legal notices about the planned change, and a final vote by the commission will take place in February.
If approved, the tax would go into effect July 1.
The county has projected a $53 million shortfall.
Information from: Albuquerque Journal.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.