§ 7-24A-3 — Use of proceeds

A. The proceeds of a county or municipal gasoline tax shall be used for bridge and road projects or public transportation related trails and for expenses of purchasing, maintaining and operating transit operations and facilities, for the operation of a transit authority established by the Municipal Transit Law [3-52-1 to 3-52-13 NMSA 1978] or as provided in the County and Municipal Gasoline Tax Act, for operation of a vehicle emission inspection program or for road, street or highway construction, repair or maintenance in the county or municipality. The proceeds of a county or municipal gasoline tax may be pledged for the payment of bonds issued pursuant to the County and Municipal Gasoline Tax Act. A county or municipality may engage in the business of transportation of passengers and property within the political subdivision by whatever means it may decide and may acquire cars, motor buses and other equipment necessary for carrying on the business. It may acquire land and erect buildings and equip them with all necessary machinery and facilities for operation, maintenance, modification, repair and storage of any buses, cars, trucks or other equipment needed. It may do all things necessary for the acquisition and conduct of the business of public transportation. B. A governing body may enact ordinances and resolutions and promulgate rules as it may deem necessary and proper for the conduct of the business of transportation and for fixing and collecting all fares, rates and charges for services rendered. C. Any county or municipality engaging in the business of transportation may extend any system of transportation to points outside its boundaries where necessary and incidental to furnishing efficient transportation to points within the county or municipality. D. A governing body may lease any system of transportation in whole or in part to any person who will contract to operate it according to the rules, time tables and other requirements established by the governing body. E. Any county or municipality may furnish transportation service to areas located outside its boundaries, provided that prior contracts have been entered into with the county or municipality in which the areas are located covering the schedules, rates, service and other pertinent matters before initiation of such service. F. The power of eminent domain is granted to a participating county or municipality for the purpose of acquiring lands and buildings necessary to provide efficient public transit or a vehicle emission inspection program to be exercised in the manner provided by law. G. A county or municipality, as an operating entity, may enter into contracts for special transportation service, charter buses, advertising and any other function that a private enterprise operating a public transit facility could do or perform for revenue. H. A governing body may spend any public funds to pay the costs of operation of public transit or a vehicle emission inspection program if revenues of the system prove to be insufficient. I. A county or municipality is authorized to enter into binding agreements with the United States or any of its officers or agencies or the state or any of its officers or agencies or any combination of agencies, departments or officers of both the United States and the state for planning, developing, modernizing, studying, improving, financing, operating or otherwise affecting public transit; to accept any loans, grants or payments from any of these agencies; and to make any commitments or assume any obligations required by any of these agencies as a condition of receiving the benefits thereof.

Legislative History

1978 Comp., § 7-24A-3, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 182, § 3; 1985, ch. 196, §