[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6095814,"mediaKeyId","2835873-d5cf738873f6d4d2d1c04bd479affb72","parentId",2835873,"title","Doña Ana County staff detail budget impact of House Bill 47 veterans exemptions","audioSeconds",628,"startMs",651000,"endMs",1279000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2835873-d5cf738873f6d4d2d1c04bd479affb72&start=651&end=1279","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2835873-d5cf738873f6d4d2d1c04bd479affb72/thumbnail_651000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6095814/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/Doña-Ana-County-staff-detail-budget-impact-of-House-Bill-47-veterans-exemptions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095814-ac37a5aa26217cc231712e217a96026e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770805612&Signature=Wd3uH2qHIsbM2XzzucKwDyRh0hU908e-cgXXsg~Wx08GTUZq0MjubWBqHeDtX~SKCbowRCjkrb1cdOZFlWYP0aVQteaBAqRKBb~M80PDRlFBuAsL1OT3RO61ya2RX9wW8njaUMNex9vPMe0D9UVBBKi1jZBu2UqHilNqWybfMEEa5R-Pmp1CAA8L~ePm-s110egSso~7NyN6yYT-x2TJxisOg2G0PKeGdoxAY1ds8EE2KdXPAiYNd1QvFpGWxbp2CogOR8brNJJ8YN9nYZOKmf7nH4M0eonVp1zsDru7g2rAcveSvTuEZLHu7QejdKedQ2HlQd7DPRUaKQLPphDQ8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dona Ana County, NM","date","2025-04-01T18:25:41.14Z","article","Doña Ana County budget staff presented an impact analysis of House Bill 47 on county property-tax revenue, telling the County Commission the bill raises the basic veteran exemption from $4,000 to $10,000 beginning with tax year 2025 and creates a percentage-based disabled-veteran exemption effective in tax year 2026.

Lucio Luttrell, Budget and Research Officer, told commissioners the bill amends two statutory provisions: section 7-37-5 (veteran exemption) and section 7-37-5.1 (disabled veteran exemption). \"Currently, that exemption amount is $4,000 but that amount will now be $10,000 beginning tax year 2025,\" Luttrell said. He added that the $10,000 exemption will be adjusted by the consumer price index in subsequent years.

Luttrell said the disabled-veteran change will allow exemptions proportionate to a veteran’s federal disability percentage beginning in tax year 2026; \"fully disabled veteran exemption is still in effect for tax year 2025 and subsequent years,\" he said. Because county staff do not yet have counts of partially disabled veterans, they could not estimate the fiscal effect of the percentage-based change for 2026 and beyond.

The budget office used 2024 final certified valuations for its estimates. For all taxing entities countywide, the existing $4,000 exemption produced roughly $773,000 in revenue loss; increasing the exemption to $10,000 would raise countywide loss to about $1,900,000, an incremental change of roughly $1,160,000. Luttrell presented the county’s (Doña Ana County) share separately: at $4,000 the county’s loss is about $252,000 and at $10,000 it would be about $630,000—a net change of approximately $378,000 based on 2024 valuations.

On the disabled-veteran exemption, staff reported a current revenue loss tied to the existing percent-disabled exemption level of about $3,500,000 countywide with roughly $1,150,000 borne by the county. \"What we don't know is effective in 2026, how many veterans have a percent, disability. So we are unable to calculate the future impact due to the lack of information,\" Luttrell said, adding the budget office will coordinate with the assessor to produce estimates as data become available.

Commissioners pressed for more data. Commissioner Sanchez asked whether staff have visibility into counts of affected homeowners; Luttrell said the assessor’s office can report only the count tied to the current $4,000 exemption (about 6,000–7,000 claimants), but cannot today break out how many veterans will qualify under a percentage-based standard. Luttrell offered to work with the assessor’s office to prepare a jurisdiction-level breakdown of impacts based on 2024 valuations and provide that to other taxing entities.

Budget staff noted that historic property-tax receipts often exceed budgeted estimates because of how the Department of Finance and Administration requires counties to budget using the most recent certified valuations; they said the county’s recent five-year actuals often come in above budgeted amounts and that cushion could help absorb some of the change depending on how many veterans qualify for the percentage exemption in 2026.

Commissioners did not take action on the item during the work session. Staff recommended continuing to refine estimates with assessor data and sharing jurisdiction-level breakdowns so municipalities and school districts can factor the change into their budgeting processes.

Ending: County staff said they will provide updated estimates as assessor data for returns and disability percentages become available and will share a breakdown with other taxing entities to aid their budgeting. No formal county action or local policy change was adopted during the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners Work Session - April 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Doña Ana County budget staff presented an impact analysis of House Bill 47 on county property-tax revenue, telling the County Commission the bill raises the basic veteran exemption from $4,000 to $10,000 beginning with tax year 2025 and creates a percentage-based disabled-veteran exemption effective in tax year 2026.","taxTitle","Doña Ana County, New Mexico","taxId",2695,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6095803,"Commissioners weigh summer internship funding as state budget uncertainty persists",845,3483000,4328000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2835873-d5cf738873f6d4d2d1c04bd479affb72&start=3483&end=4328","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2835873-d5cf738873f6d4d2d1c04bd479affb72/thumbnail_3483000.jpg","/articles/6095803/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/Commissioners-weigh-summer-internship-funding-as-state-budget-uncertainty-persists","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095803-e6c0e029b28342ab13bc53ec29104117/orig.mp4?Expires=1770805612&Signature=OGXInw6FaCQ48nvRI6sG~YoPFb-IW9krJ7K7rvtKPl6KSvGEiY8dm8p~NQ0~QoID5vSrCEj-xJuaChf46rUcJGwtOXzSoUjBCAKLpY57hzJd8Bh2PZvNC4BDIYeAdic22gcvsZPMSIWheLMUyVSFa4imygZhjKM9Gubj24slefuTS-STdS5VljKR-9tkd8waN9rBVIiDW0ykAxW~QoHOSGXgs~57Bop0EtX3tsgSy5jHXJVFNnpMgkEIuPO43mHk27qmPeVApmHQW7H3dq7bk0iUD77jKfY9pRB5JaHVgkyF0gERJBuJYg89vFWgNYCl7F-1i78tutk7YOphrOh99A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Doña Ana County administration briefed commissioners on the Summer Enrichment Internship Program (SEIP), explaining the program’s budget uncertainty at the state level and seeking guidance on next steps to support school-district participation if state funds do not materialize.

Stephen Lopez, Assistant County Manager, said the program had been funded previously with ARPA money and was in HB2 as a $10,000,000 statewide line item; as of the work session the bill had not been signed and the line-item risked being delayed until the statutory July 1 start of the fiscal year. \"The challenges are a, it is specific to summer internship, and b, the state budget doesn't fund until July 1. And at that point in time, we are almost done with summer break for Las Cruces public schools,\" Lopez said, noting that the late timing would leave only a few weeks of practical summer programming for some school calendars.

Lopez and Jonathan Macias described efforts to secure local partners. County staff said Las Cruces Public Schools, Gadsden Independent School District and Hatch Valley Public Schools submitted a joint letter expressing support and offering to identify eligible students; the letter was signed by Travis Dempsey, Michael Chavez, and Ignacio Ruiz. Lopez said the county can act as a fiscal sponsor for the program and recommended discussing models in which school districts take on program delivery while the county handles funding flows if state reimbursements follow.

Commissioners raised implementation questions. Commissioner Cabanos emphasized transportation and the special challenges for rural districts; staff noted that school-district buses can legally be used for school activities if districts are fiscal partners, which may ease rural access constraints. Commissioners discussed alternative models—county-funded pilots paid from reserves, targeted after-school or year-round work opportunities, or coordinating with workforce entities to provide wraparound services and supports for students with financial need.

Lopez cautioned against conflating the internship program with violent-crime prevention narratives. He said the program \"has never been tied to crime reduction\" and that recent violent incidents discussed elsewhere in the county were not linked to program participants. He recommended clarifying the program’s goals (workforce readiness, household income support, career exposure) and securing partner commitments before committing county funds.

Ending: Administration asked commissioners whether they want a formal agenda item to consider using county reserves to seed a program if state funds remain unavailable; commissioners expressed general support for working with school districts and partners to develop models, and staff said they would return with options for possible board action.","Doña Ana County administration told commissioners the state’s summer internship line in HB2 remains unsigned, creating a timing risk for 2025 SEIP programming and prompting discussion of local options to support students.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6095809,"County outlines economic development push: recruitment, market studies, 'Desert Kitchen' and GRT-sharing incentives",4073,1173000,5246000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2835873-d5cf738873f6d4d2d1c04bd479affb72&start=1173&end=5246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2835873-d5cf738873f6d4d2d1c04bd479affb72/thumbnail_1173000.jpg","/articles/6095809/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/County-outlines-economic-development-push-recruitment-market-studies-Desert-Kitchen-and-GRT-sharing-incentives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095809-1efe981b5a7ed008cddab6285eec465e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770805612&Signature=LNeiQcjWvwA5ACNy0uHWv3Sc4TkWY~GFgSCGPmHOXvMZ464tf2Y4dqTDPExvJIksB5~GjV8pQtsqMrd0omCdrst31lSp~UytgAShw0jopjZAfeReSthimOAtMtCvWM~DgxWpTQYb249TNby0NgmfYbmP0lZkQkSfBM~KjocPQxfAeUbX7fTVA-jr4g7PsFdTZ3yvZiAeAyx0Xb20IZEYUMkKZIpXZHGBcQeqpH9wmIkS5MOSTSWR~C0WBI~NEkn0h7nw2riO24yse~wX~ZLQYAeHBrLVWXIFjtfetMpFcSDudHGPCvg6uw9q14A8SUAb1ZF7tlrTL847M0a~xJle9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Doña Ana County administrators asked the County Commission for feedback on a package of economic development initiatives that includes recruitment for a new economic development director, market and parks planning RFPs, a potential commercial kitchen at the fairgrounds, and options for gross-receipts-tax (GRT) sharing to incentivize business investment.

Jonathan Macias, Assistant County Manager, said the county reposted the economic development director position and added a $20,000 sign-on bonus payable after a one-year probationary period. Macias said a recruitment brochure and a set of RFPs are live; RFPs mentioned in the presentation include a market and retail analysis (closing end of the month) and a parks, recreation and community centers master plan (scope closes April 30) that would include implementation steps at five-, 10- and 15-year intervals.

Stephen Lopez, Assistant County Manager, described a proposal to convert the fairgrounds’ Quonset-hut kitchen into a short-term-rental commercial kitchen, dubbed \"Desert Kitchen,\" that could be rented for batches of food production and used as a teaching kitchen by Cooperative Extension. Lopez said the space would include multiple burners, sinks and soon electric kettles, and that Cooperative Extension was already planning programming for future spring and summer sessions.

Lopez also outlined a GRT-sharing incentive concept for capital investments that generate new gross receipts. He described a model in which the county rebates a portion of locally generated GRT to developers after project completion. \"If somebody wants to make an addition to a restaurant, to a small mom and pop grocery store ... 50% seems like a good place for us to start if the Board is supportive of that,\" Lopez said, referencing the State’s approach to large projects. county staff said the unincorporated-area tax rate is about 6.5 percent and that the county’s local share is about 1.9 percent; under the proposed model the county would rebate roughly half of the county’s share (about 0.95 percent of construction value) to eligible projects.

Lopez and Macias gave a numerical example: a $100 million construction project in the unincorporated area would generate roughly $6.5 million in local GRT; the county’s 1.9 percent share of that would yield about $1.9 million, of which a 50 percent county rebate would be roughly $950,000. Lopez said larger state-participation programs have historically required very large projects (the presentation cited a $350 million threshold for the state’s large-project program) and that the county can also design smaller, local incentives for projects that do not qualify for state participation. He argued that converting vacant properties into taxable development and increased payroll typically generates more long-term revenue than the short-term rebate cost.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about how rebates would work, whether the county had used this tool previously (staff said they had not), and whether incentives should be limited to targeted industries or linked to a loan program for smaller firms. Several commissioners favored a mixed approach: encourage large catalytic projects while also exploring small-business tools (low-interest loans, lease incentives, partnership with economic partners such as Arrowhead and local chambers). Commissioners discussed using county-owned properties (including underused fire stations) for incubator or maker-space uses, and suggested coordinating with Chambers of Commerce and Arrowhead (small-business support organization) to package loan and technical-assistance resources.

Macias said the administration will return with a formal package for commission votes if given directional feedback. The board did not vote on policy during the work session; commissioners voiced general support for pursuing the ideas, asked staff to continue outreach, and suggested the administration bring back more detailed proposals and draft RFPs for consideration.

Ending: Staff asked for a \"temperature check\" and for commission feedback on whether to pursue GRT-sharing and other tools; commissioners generally supported further study and directed staff to keep working with stakeholders and to return with concrete program proposals for board action.","Doña Ana County administrators asked the County Commission for feedback on recruitment, market- and parks-planning RFPs, and incentive tools including GRT-sharing and facility reuse.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6095799,"County Health and Human Services outlines behavioral-health services, crisis response and a push for local psychiatric residency",1654,5115000,6769000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2835873-d5cf738873f6d4d2d1c04bd479affb72&start=5115&end=6769","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2835873-d5cf738873f6d4d2d1c04bd479affb72/thumbnail_5115000.jpg","/articles/6095799/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/County-Health-and-Human-Services-outlines-behavioral-health-services-crisis-response-and-a-push-for-local-psychiatric-residency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095799-d594b5b2b6ca63b9962e8d621a8c9422/orig.mp4?Expires=1770805612&Signature=VW8wTUQPTq8GgDPTNl3RIiZI2lXaZ1XzwtkjwhKuvwb54IOGcuLgomdY~VkY3o~6Nsj9Zw1-tVyFA74npc5k3Wpmd4vGLHv-uSgqFTPi6LffS9IHs3YE~9hkIXwM1~ilgs9Tq59Uj1JByzLb8I0YBu0eJ3~O~VTzliI9WIUaIEoqfVuFb1FNOqal8X7PAC7eftzKiB15Z1nuEv3NDn4I8X94YWlcoSiSsRmumsw4grerac7NvZmhhevC2yoOPOlVbAzqSMRDxXRdlyJeLG4PFnHqQrhR45rpGW3d09esv4cq9-Dua38Ekwc13xQv-aeqt7hcLW66oDit141kiKXgnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Doña Ana County Health and Human Services staff briefed the commission on behavioral-health programs, crisis response and workforce initiatives, and asked for support coordinating state funding for supportive housing and for local endorsement of plans to host a psychiatric residency program with the University of New Mexico.

Jamie Michael, Director of Health and Human Services, said the department employs roughly 50–60 staff, many trained in Mental Health First Aid, and contracts with multiple community providers to deliver behavioral-health services. \"One of the most impactful things that we are able to do is provide funding to providers in the community that provide direct care direct treatment services to people in the community,\" Michael said, noting the department’s Health Care Assistance Program underpins many contracts.

Michael highlighted the Crisis Triage Center and said the department’s largest contract element supports that service. She described school-based substance-use prevention that, after curriculum redesign tied to internal professional development, produced a 40 percent pre/post knowledge change in recent classes (up from about 7 percent prior to redesign). On overdose prevention, Michael said the county distributed almost 2,000 Narcan kits in 2024 and trained nearly 400 people.

The department supports 988 crisis-line outreach and operates an online resource-and-referral platform, Connect Doña (ConnectDonana), backed by community-health workers. Michael described coordinated efforts under the Stepping Up initiative—assisted outpatient treatment, medication for opioid use disorder, jail reentry navigation and competency diversion supports—and said a transitional supportive housing proposal will be brought to the commission with a budget revision on the next business meeting agenda.

Michael also asked for commission support for a proposed psychiatric residency sponsored by the University of New Mexico. Under the proposed model, residents would spend the first year at UNM in Albuquerque and then three subsequent years at local facilities, including outpatient rotations at La Clinica and inpatient work at Mesilla Valley Hospital. Michael asked commissioners to help demonstrate local support for the residency and for a broader graduate-medical-education consortium that might include Memorial Medical Center and other hospitals.

Commissioners raised questions about leveraging opioid-settlement funds, potential changes to local DWI funding that support about a quarter of the department workforce, and how Medicaid billing permission for in-jail services could reduce county correctional-health costs. Michael asked the board to consider support for coordinating state housing dollars, as HB2 includes a $10,000,000 housing appropriation for Las Cruces and Doña Ana County, and to consider a county resolution endorsing graduate-medical-education efforts.

Ending: Michael said staff will invite commission members to meet UNM representatives and will return with budget revisions on transitional supportive housing and an opioid settlement investment plan; the commission voiced general support for pursuing a psychiatric residency and coordinated housing funding.","Doña Ana County Health and Human Services reviewed contracted behavioral-health services, prevention and overdose-response efforts, and asked the commission to support state housing coordination and a planned psychiatric residency with UNM.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Doña Ana County staff detail budget impact of House Bill 47 veterans exemptions

Commissioners weigh summer internship funding as state budget uncertainty persists

County outlines economic development push: recruitment, market studies, 'Desert Kitchen' and GRT-sharing incentives

County Health and Human Services outlines behavioral-health services, crisis response and a push for local psychiatric residency