Education[edit]
The town's public schools operated by Taos Municipal Schools include Arroyos del Norte Elementary School, Enos García Elementary (also Taos Elementary School), Ranchos Elementary School, Taos Middle School, Taos High School and Taos Cyber Magnet School.[42]
Charter schools include Anansi Charter School, Taos Academy (State Charter), Taos Municipal Charter School and Vista Grande High School.[43] Also in the area are additional alternative and private schools: Chrysalis Alternative School, Sped Discipline, Yaxche Private School, Taos Christian Academy, and San Francisco De Asis School.[44] The Bureau of Indian Education-operated Taos Day School is in nearby Taos Pueblo.[45]
Dallas-based Southern Methodist University operates a 295-acre (119 ha) campus at Fort Burgwin in Taos.[46]
Albuquerque-based University of New Mexico (UNM) operates a community campus in Taos, with eight affiliated buildings in Taos, such as the UNM Harwood Museum of Art and Taos High School where some classes are held.[47][48]
The Earthship Academy (or Earthship Biotecture Academy) is offering training in Earthship design principles, construction methods and philosophy. Earthship is a particular type of sustainable architecture and design, based around solar power.[49]
The town of Taos is incorporated under the mayor-council form of government. The town was incorporated on May 7, 1934.[50] The town seal is a logo of the town of Taos with the year of incorporation "1934" in the center, and on the outer edge, the words "Town of Taos, New Mexico".[51]
The elective officers of the town include the mayor, four members of the governing body forming the town council, and a municipal judge.[52] The town council is the board of finance of the town. The town manager and finance director serve as the nonvoting members to the board of finance.[53] Key positions within the town government are town manager, appointed by the mayor, Town Attorney, Town Clerk, Town Engineer and Chief of Police.[54]
As of April 2022 the town officers were:
Taos is predominantly made up of Democrats; in 2008, approximately 74% of registered Taos County voters were Democrats, 13% were Republicans and about 13% identified with other parties or declined to affiliate with a party.[56]
Taos has one sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International: