Letters to the Editor

Free seniors from paying income tax on withdrawals

Editor:

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many seniors are having to make withdrawals from their retirement savings accounts, which incurs an income tax.

Since we are not receiving any monetary benefits from the various levels of government, here’s a thought to help us out. If withdrawals are made during this tax year, then free seniors from paying any income tax on these withdrawals.

Estimating a 10 percent income tax can save $400 on a $4,000 withdrawal. That’s a real savings, which would help many to offset everyday expenses that have increased dramatically.

I have written this thought to my state federal legislators with no response other than a form letter about COVID-19 precautions. A little publicity on this issue may help many.

Robert Wiseman

Rio Communities

Project is worthwhile

Editor:

For going on two years I’ve been part of Valencia Renewables, a group of Valencia County residents encouraging our county government and some local municipalities to adopt renewable energy (solar in particular) and other energy-saving measures (LED lighting for instance).

Our state offers Energy Savings Performance Contracting that allows government entities to pay for these upgrades with the guaranteed energy savings.

When I had solar panels installed on my home in 2011, I got an energy audit that showed me where I could conserve energy by making my home more energy efficient in order to reduce the load on the solar panels. So it’s no surprise that when the county began the process of evaluating its energy usage and needs, the first step was a preliminary energy audit.

Recently, the county commissioners and the county manager, with Valencia Renewables members observing via Zoom, met with Engie, a state-approved company that presented the results of the preliminary energy audit as a prelude to an investment grade audit.

I understand County Manager Danny Monette has learned that proceeding with an Engie contract would not harm the county’s bonding ability for other initiatives and that he will be looking to the commissioners soon for their direction regarding proceeding with the ESPC process.

Energy Savings Performance Contracting is a turnkey service by an approved vendor, guaranteeing annual savings that pay for the energy-efficiency upgrades.

Please ask your commissioners to decide in favor of this project — good for the county and for the environment.

Geri Rhodes

Tomé

Step up, DR Horton

Editor:

Everyone wants their community to be a place where residents take pride and have respect for that community, but it is an ongoing effort.

In Huning Ranch, this is even more difficult when a builder, having bought back some of the houses that it had sold to buyers, fails to rehabilitate and sell those houses after having owned them for a sometimes lengthy period.

Such is the case with several houses now owned by DR Horton in Huning Ranch.

Despite numerous notices from the homeowners’ association to DR Horton and after the builder has repeatedly been fined for violations, DR Horton continues to fail to complete work on houses in various states of repair. That failure to act is an insult to the community and to homeowners who live near these eyesores.

If DR Horton hopes to sell houses in Valencia County, it needs to step up to the plate, get its act together and complete rehabilitation of the houses it owns and re-sell them, instead of dawdling as it has done for months and in some cases years.

James Rickey

Los Lunas