[{"_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",6223856,"mediaKeyId","3561569-aa4f05a87f70f2f4aaad3c4a20b3fc2f","parentId",3561569,"title","SCRTD board approves executive director contract after closed session","audioSeconds",374,"startMs",5136000,"endMs",5510000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3561569-aa4f05a87f70f2f4aaad3c4a20b3fc2f&start=5136&end=5510","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3561569-aa4f05a87f70f2f4aaad3c4a20b3fc2f/thumbnail_5136000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6223856/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/SCRTD-board-approves-executive-director-contract-after-closed-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223856-466fd1c1afad62be48154ddc05b65224/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172759&Signature=kUtfFLOpzoWhd5r6c8j~XiBr9q~IKIYrzhqkfEiBk6ZCK5ft4foUIMUgwE09bIbwX~hHH~q7BYKQEM9BdRzrLevoO6W~hEuOuhWcVYwAbuRfjp05tNY1vNqdun7O6eyHwHFrTbvHOd2C4lpAVBo6DLRzRtvWBCx9slMcVkPpNAysIDkxmIYa2lOtI95P46fVrvV2YwxtbyesWc22jE8td4XIo89AI6XlleDF3fKL-2mY5W2zVwgSis1AfxCKMhm4nuCcAhXcXWC1gcumpvQbHPoe00Ta~dc5Jzi70-e-WzRGSl6dxsXmq326AoZoLLIa0jPTVCr04g8EVG~52Q0qoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dona Ana County, NM","date","2025-05-28T18:20:29Z","article","The South Central Regional Transit District board approved an employment agreement for the district’s executive director following a closed session at the May 28 meeting.

The board went into closed session to discuss personnel matters as allowed by the state Open Meetings Act; the motion to enter closed session cited the Open Meetings Act and a statutory reference read in the meeting record. When the board returned to open session, a motion to approve the executive director’s contract passed on a roll call vote.

The approved contract covers the period from April 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2028. The board set the executive director’s salary at $143,718.43 effective April 1, 2025, with a planned increase to $161,368.06 effective Jan. 1, 2026. The motion was seconded and approved; roll call votes were recorded as yes from Trustee Powe, Mayor Murillo, Mayor Hernandez and Commissioner Sanchez.

The board chair noted that the contract action concluded the closed session matter and that the executive director will continue in the role under the newly approved agreement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","South Central Regional Transit District (SCRTD) Regular Meeting - May 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Following a closed session authorized under the Open Meetings Act, the South Central Regional Transit District board approved a contract for its executive director, setting salary and term dates through December 31, 2028.","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},6223860,"SCRTD staff lays out FY2026 budget; capital grant carryovers and federal awards drive large capital program",889,3899000,4788000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3561569-aa4f05a87f70f2f4aaad3c4a20b3fc2f&start=3899&end=4788","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3561569-aa4f05a87f70f2f4aaad3c4a20b3fc2f/thumbnail_3899000.jpg","/articles/6223860/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/SCRTD-staff-lays-out-FY2026-budget-capital-grant-carryovers-and-federal-awards-drive-large-capital-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223860-3fac33f73117040b96061768107c0cc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172759&Signature=Kg~UAvu6YSGdCnr-5nvLGqYfxlcuJL-ZppZ6niSUI09II8-sLBf~dx~MJVsyj6OtXe5WxwjhJmZ-frslIV4ATVi-gcWPhN8GLMyrtEIp6mZ9cNb1uSepBpWjvsznAzj0Q2llwTN0qTkdDi2YZQf88Gynma0QZjcxIT1hMHC8m-R~by6B6NrJB8Qx0IUcLcpEgmZf3nIIKAWuo6MJirlrB70Uh8fvWGBj-~pyqWW4PRorbj1eZTrOlmlP7XnrB9dDNYHR6ouP7svaZnf9a0hDW6ZdXnpQh0~OgS1rlG4Bps28mK4jmY2zs-RkHdCE8OvLEwAI1F1HSytutJAZKuRyGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Adam Shea, presenting the draft fiscal year 2026 budget at the May 28 board meeting, said the district expects $3,310,559.65 in revenue and proposed operating expenditures of $3,219,760.75, leaving a carryover balance of $90,798.89.

Shea summarized personnel costs at $1,890,965.95 and employee benefits at $637,542.81, the latter driven by a health‑care cost adjustment. He described other operating subtotals including travel and maintenance ($325,000), supplies ($28,000) and insurance ($52,502). Overall operating expenditures rose about 6.96% from the prior year in the draft he presented.

Shea outlined large capital carryovers and federal grant programs that underpin a much larger capital budget. He told the board that several grant lines — including CMAQ and FTA Section 5339 series funding — have significant carryover amounts and that the district will program purchases against those awards in the coming year. Shea said the district had carried over substantial FY2025 capital funds and that the capital total available in FY2026 remains large compared with typical years.

Board members discussed the fare policy and micro‑transit. David Armijo said the district recently picked up additional state funds that could add roughly $90,000 to the operating side and asked the board to consider whether to continue a partial fare waiver through December. Tim, a staff member, cautioned that micro‑transit and paratransit‑type services can have higher per‑trip costs and that fare policy for micro‑transit should be carefully reviewed before launch.

The presentation was for discussion; the board did not take a final vote on the budget at the May meeting and staff said they will return with an updated budget for approval.","Finance staff presented a FY2026 operating budget with $3.31 million in projected revenue and $3.22 million in operating expenditures, leaving a carryover. The presentation also outlined substantial capital carryovers and multiple federal and state grant sources including CMAQ and FTA 5339 funds.",{"_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},6223865,"SCRTD board approves ICIP prioritizing Venus facility, microgrid and electric buses",215,2777000,2992000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3561569-aa4f05a87f70f2f4aaad3c4a20b3fc2f&start=2777&end=2992","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3561569-aa4f05a87f70f2f4aaad3c4a20b3fc2f/thumbnail_2777000.jpg","/articles/6223865/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/SCRTD-board-approves-ICIP-prioritizing-Venus-facility-microgrid-and-electric-buses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223865-3a13cc235f9b4148416193c2f052709b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172759&Signature=XJ4uJPQ9T1yAzMO1XP1wD0A~MqdhN1nXKP-pfmeT3olSVR3mTBpIYwOUtRr3SGYh1s1ZpFIgz4BOwYfQ39rHMr~FvrPve7X0vpOs~2VgmnPSIjlcrQUwkoZ8agbNm5kajwtcaBUh8eeQJ9-k5yccPBCm5D24PaRFqmJ4pqPY~33hcyIcNPYD~yIwL~C1wWkB~FSM3Mi8Q~gST6JNU6uyFIWBddcgVNknCCmckqZ9Ze~VdRABa5qJQx1sDFHrPx64jdY~5~mDG84H09DdpA5na0tLq4y0kBS8WFfZIaKFxkzcf0Gvmwu9WUfpbzhxMn3DyQm5ktASBmUCLEv~bqbOGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Central Regional Transit District board approved a five‑year Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP) for fiscal years 2027–2031 during its May 28 meeting.

Tim, a staff member presenting the plan, told the board the ICIP is “a local planning tool” used to establish project priorities and to file an updated five‑year plan with the state. He outlined seven priority projects in order: the Venus Road office and maintenance facility; a Sunland Park microgrid; electric buses planned for FY2027; Sunland Park facility upgrades; hybrid buses for FY2027; bus shelter purchases; and updates to the micro‑transit fleet and dispatching software.

Tim described the Venus facility work as phase two of a previously funded project that will add an office and maintenance capacity to reduce deadhead mileage for vehicles serving the East Mesa and northern service area. The microgrid project would generate solar energy to serve electric vehicles at the Sunland Park Mobility and Energy Hub. Staff said the electric‑vehicle purchases include smaller vans for low‑ridership routes and larger hybrids where charging infrastructure is not yet available.

Mayor Murillo moved to begin discussion and Trustee Powe seconded that motion; the board then voted to approve the ICIP list. A roll call recorded the votes as yes from Trustee Powe, Mayor Hernandez, Mayor Murillo and Commissioner Sanchez; the motion passed.

Board members and staff said the ICIP will help prioritize projects for grant requests and legislative outreach. Tim and other staff said the cleaned‑up ICIP will make the district’s funding requests more visible to state and federal partners.

The resolution passed as an action item; staff will pursue programming and grant steps required to implement the listed projects.","The South Central Regional Transit District board voted unanimously to approve the five‑year Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan for fiscal 2027–2031, listing seven priority projects including the Venus Road office and maintenance facility, a Sunland Park microgrid and electric buses.",{"_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},6223870,"SCRTD reports strong ridership growth, rolls out Saturday service and hybrid buses",831,1725000,2556000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3561569-aa4f05a87f70f2f4aaad3c4a20b3fc2f&start=1725&end=2556","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3561569-aa4f05a87f70f2f4aaad3c4a20b3fc2f/thumbnail_1725000.jpg","/articles/6223870/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/SCRTD-reports-strong-ridership-growth-rolls-out-Saturday-service-and-hybrid-buses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223870-c940d85974417275642777473a759b44/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172759&Signature=EAvxkRlX-PkrEIWow81ThkM883ecTxTIHOYMw7S5kRCF-sjAgVnljt-e~zAfE~kPr0U1eS8X6HpDF2cIxsYw1zVCd-yIUc~sBDON1debJUD1WLi0Da4o6KoEIsc4~8MqD8nEpn4eF4ZqgGF9iFNmFzbMuAI5C79fCcSWpCZoXooGPZ3EEhzmgK2UuKN-5VOcO8Gtj5RQO0n62bdn9BS-8xntzoEy7O2gJ1fF-6zFPlLNa9A5dBbMOuzQCmOQdjb-9w4G~U1pDGSbSRJce-hnhfYdnnkRJbSG1l1ZfEC~pAP4JpyQtewuPa1IAVToJtUJQzBfa7Y2DtkRqzH7llCLLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","David Armijo, executive director of the South Central Regional Transit District, told the board on May 28 that ridership is up sharply and the agency is expanding service and equipment to match demand.

Armijo said the system had recorded about 98,000 trips through the first seven months of the fiscal year and reported year‑over‑year growth of 27.4%. “That’s still very healthy,” he said. “We’re very lucky that we’re able to continue to sustain almost 30% a year.”

The district has added weekend service and extended several routes. Armijo said Saturday service recently began on the green route and that the copper route was extended to New Mexico State University to improve connections. He gave specific route examples, saying the copper route rose from roughly 245 rides in its first month to about 676 last month, and that the blue route increased from about 272 to 461 in the same span.

Managers are also adding newer vehicles, Armijo said. He told the board the agency expects to put hybrid buses into service soon and that it has more hybrid and electric vehicles on order. “We’re thinking of focusing [a hybrid]… it may rotate between the turquoise and the red route,” he said. Armijo said four hybrids will be in the fleet in the near term and that additional electric buses remain in procurement queues.

The district is piloting micro‑transit and on‑demand services, Armijo said, and is investing in maintenance and dispatch systems. He said the agency recently completed the environmental review for its Venus facility and is moving toward state approvals: “We just completed the NEPA,” he told the board.

Trustee Powe praised the service’s reach into Sierra County. “This county has a large number of people who do not have vehicles, and you are providing their only means of transportation,” she said during the meeting.

Board members and staff discussed operational constraints: staffing levels limit how quickly new weekend and micro‑transit service can expand, and managers said vehicle availability is tied to federal procurement timelines and manufacturer schedules. Armijo said the district is also evaluating on‑site solar generation and a microgrid at its facilities to reduce operating costs over time.

The discussion produced no formal vote; staff said they will continue vehicle roll‑out, finalize procurement and present budget detail at next month’s meeting.","South Central Regional Transit District Executive Director David Armijo reported 27.4% year‑over‑year ridership growth through the first seven months and described fleet, service and facility investments including expanded Saturday runs, new hybrid buses and work on a solar microgrid.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

SCRTD board approves executive director contract after closed session

SCRTD staff lays out FY2026 budget; capital grant carryovers and federal awards drive large capital program

SCRTD board approves ICIP prioritizing Venus facility, microgrid and electric buses

SCRTD reports strong ridership growth, rolls out Saturday service and hybrid buses