[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6156433,"mediaKeyId","5469939-1be505bf2f04494908fb3005daf93fa1","parentId",5469939,"title","SCRTD introduces two new staff members to board","audioSeconds",307,"startMs",2227000,"endMs",2534000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5469939-1be505bf2f04494908fb3005daf93fa1&start=2227&end=2534","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5469939-1be505bf2f04494908fb3005daf93fa1/thumbnail_2227000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6156433/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/SCRTD-introduces-two-new-staff-members-to-board","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156433-5609067abdda926851067ad462c8fc1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770930761&Signature=MuQfidXrDCV7xJbKymLA46eH8~jHNdkEcGTP51nqDRLiJuWHIS6Iqpdnbgm9BPIC~0XVchykqVTUUvUzb-1sZ6iw9Rfawai8imXsGnKmxMe~vlEw7jJF4Eu9fJ7uLkV~pz-8BBDmobW~V~w44Mn1VeFYBB9eL7ePnzya~C5xiQxQCBiaqMQfiD6pitGyMG0D-TVTuCaULsINcx27ZirZl-XqDMsMlrNl8gejDT35I2sFsnF2CcBpxdfeXq~-FcLTRdEhS52Sbjk2yyPrcdPMCWJkAvTc1~HEik03deE7CQaOeM-PhQr~62N5SnVCmBepw7JZ8aEIqMqd0Lz3W9lmMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dona Ana County, NM","date","2025-07-25T04:16:04.037Z","article","At its July meeting the South Central Regional Transit District introduced two new employees and heard brief remarks from each.

Executive Director David Armijo asked Daniel Gutierrez and Liza Alonzo to introduce themselves. \"My name is Daniel Gutierrez. I just started with the South Central Regional Transit a week ago,\" Gutierrez said, describing a master's degree in architecture, project management experience and a drone pilot certification he will use for facility documentation. He said he will document projects and provide aerial imagery for engineering and planning work.

Liza Alonzo told the board she is in her second week and described prior experience supporting executive communications and behavioral health leadership. \"On my second week I was recently working in behavioral health as a support to the CEO there. But I think my heart has always been in construction and kind of what we're doing,\" Alonzo said, adding she will support administration and project management functions.

Board members welcomed both new hires and asked a few operational questions about duties; no formal action was taken. Armijo said both hires will assist across project work streams including the planned Summit Park microgrid, facility expansions and related capital projects.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","South Central Regional Transit District (SCRTD), Regular Meeting - July 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board was introduced to two new employees: Daniel Gutierrez, project/architecture background and drone certification, and Liza Alonzo, office/communications and project support; both were welcomed and no formal votes occurred.","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},6156438,"Board approves FY2025 budget amendment and accepts fourth-quarter financial report",787,4147000,4934000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5469939-1be505bf2f04494908fb3005daf93fa1&start=4147&end=4934","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5469939-1be505bf2f04494908fb3005daf93fa1/thumbnail_4147000.jpg","/articles/6156438/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/Board-approves-FY2025-budget-amendment-and-accepts-fourth-quarter-financial-report","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156438-40aca91cd32a630e6a3467e091fd632a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770930761&Signature=jvLC3DzcGL7A0uDqFX3BWLnQNJjapW19XD8CAVz4LEqfuvIfJXmjB9h0oodILiaKwrtt8ena7u0Eh8liAxfXygfwe-Fl4PZlBH49FJjigJN2IveRGoXCtmUmjxNl4~nE2veCytxHQXSkwngVLRoMnRNC16w~2jsQEJU0TDSASvqEsAmlRs5LdKIPdCSSxwlsHaklfMYdI3gWIYbL-sZnPKsW0AMy4MLGwQBLqxJY8O9YyIefd5hC16YucqYWpQXEBiA-eh2ApXuwRyPF1IXkjd2ThV8Z1KFzC1ZiXjz8dtYoWAfMBB0bNX8OhZ3gxCrbjTFgew98f6LKC8VzSQTymQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Central Regional Transit District board approved a fiscal year 2025 budget amendment and then accepted the district's fourth-quarter financial report at its July meeting.

Finance Officer Adam Shea presented the amendment, which adjusts operating and capital line items to reflect costs tied to acquisition and preparation of the Summit Park facility, equipment purchases and other year-end items. Shea told the board the revised operating expenditures total $2,998,848.96 (about 99.8% of the budgeted expenditures) and that the district's June 30 cash balance was $211,550.72. \"The amount, as of June 30 is $211,550.72,\" Shea said when asked about cash on hand.

Key changes Shea identified included an increase in salaries of roughly $14,000, a decrease in benefits of about $18,000, a fuel savings of roughly $47,000, increases in office equipment of about $6,000 and facility maintenance increases of about $43,000 tied to work on the Summit Park facility (painting, carpeting, equipment). For capital accounts, Shea reported a net increase of $528,225.94 driven by local matches, refunds and an accounting correction related to electric charging equipment costs and refunds from El Paso Electric Company.

Shea said some capital reimbursements were already billed and that the district was awaiting payment from the state for New Mexico matching funds and other grants. The amendment as presented balanced the operating revenues and expenditures. \"This gives us a total amount in the revised budget for operating revenue of $3,184,535.50,\" Shea said while summarizing revenue adjustments.

After discussion the board approved the budget amendment on a roll call vote. Immediately following, Shea presented the FY2025 fourth‑quarter financials: total expenditures for the year were $2,998,848.96 and the board was told the utility and charging-station-related costs increased some line items in the fourth quarter as the district integrated new electric charging infrastructure. The board then voted to accept the financial report.

Both votes passed by roll call. Board members asked questions about cash-on-hand and billing schedules for matching funds; Shea replied that more than $1 million in claims had been submitted and the district was waiting for reimbursements.","Board approved an amendment to the SCRTD FY2025 budget reflecting facility-related expenditures and capital increases, and separately adopted the district's fourth-quarter financial report showing nearly full expenditure of the year's budget and a June 30 cash balance of $211,550.72.",{"_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},6156442,"Board postpones employee handbook updates after member requests for clearer disciplinary language",674,2523000,3197000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5469939-1be505bf2f04494908fb3005daf93fa1&start=2523&end=3197","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5469939-1be505bf2f04494908fb3005daf93fa1/thumbnail_2523000.jpg","/articles/6156442/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/Board-postpones-employee-handbook-updates-after-member-requests-for-clearer-disciplinary-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156442-f538b806e9d23314c415dc025df202ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1770930761&Signature=Tosh8H6gebTQmZ~3pj2kiiwAcHPp0qLZl-cpP5fXp~sIM90tKBUr5bDJnrGjV82iL0Sv9iBvtiZ~QjXOd7u4b3zxsMZA7piWKV6dsZ6g33wSC3zW6o8MWpwUb97OEoURG-dXTfNO3iIXojQpziVymlGQB1jkm2O3Ogo-OLk2BCIAuyXNoE02-7V2YHJscv6j-aVRGdahD8WkwRyU2imTBcvFxhEApqy~JJEg8ys~BtHSA-mF5F29e-7pws2eOnKmdIjTFDNtJuPk0yDF1AlBiIGS9R1yIeqzvALcduhb6oxq1nhEJasx7vqd~u-ekZ-WJHBa5Z-eazsAMZPuAcz9dA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Central Regional Transit District board postponed a resolution to adopt updates to the employee handbook after members asked staff to refine disciplinary language and other details.

Human resources staff presented revisions that rename the document \"Employee Handbook,\" update the organization's address and add clarity about use of district property and vehicle discipline. HR proposed that \"upon the first offense the employee will receive a formal written warning\" and that progressive discipline, including suspension of driving privileges or termination, could follow for subsequent violations depending on severity.

Executive Director David Armijo and HR staff explained those changes were intended to tighten the district's standards for vehicle use, reduce perceived leniency in prior language and address abuse of paid time off. The proposed text also added a line stating repeated failure to follow advanced notice policies for PTO \"may result in disciplinary action, including written warnings.\" The handbook draft included a new SCRTD position pay scale section to show baseline market starting points for positions.

Board members discussed whether disciplinary language should set explicit limits or remain broad to allow discretion. Trustee Poway recommended adding expiration dates to policies to force periodic review. Councilor Flores asked whether the proposed discipline language should be broader than a written-warning-only approach; HR staff said they could change the wording to allow progressive discipline up to termination depending on circumstances.

Rather than vote on the version presented, the board voted to postpone the resolution and asked staff to return with amended wording that reflects the board's comments. A motion to postpone and bring back the handbook with the noted modifications passed on a roll call vote; the board will consider the amended resolution at the next meeting.","Staff presented proposed changes to the SCRTD employee handbook covering vehicle-use discipline, PTO abuse and pay scales; board members asked for revised wording and the board voted to postpone final approval to a later meeting.",{"_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},6156447,"Board approves higher procurement thresholds to align with state rules",928,3214000,4142000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5469939-1be505bf2f04494908fb3005daf93fa1&start=3214&end=4142","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5469939-1be505bf2f04494908fb3005daf93fa1/thumbnail_3214000.jpg","/articles/6156447/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/Board-approves-higher-procurement-thresholds-to-align-with-state-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156447-0e10ac4c72be64d11efa3e6a66cc0d95/orig.mp4?Expires=1770930761&Signature=bQyJ58q9QQ18A-biDtJ7j2Y1CmL-aM1PceVHq7bmfe2Mahmig9dGcJvo0nJpP7J58tbpD0-vaV3-PrTuIzgVVIdjR3R6nup~fuXHcF4NMWs9OANnXV6CdkXbFQGT~EbXGrYJ18kbOHYsuZ5UTL-7SjbOFA4C-aHLoEp191PYH1Mgs~63sQ79CvZIGReabJF1qnbGvJd-Kas5YEtzbbZK7wcjOkiS0rIulS-i7Dl42r-WEgNYXq52VbAFAjSReIVyR0yjp22FIW3Th~fp6cJYiYViXXkwwENRmmhc4TwDeeQWOjrHLBgmkqP24VX13SdbW3mZ7c-5ykYMLk1F2eQnWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Central Regional Transit District board voted to adopt amendments to its procurement manual that raise several dollar thresholds and clarify small‑purchase tiers, the board decided after a presentation by procurement staff.

Diana Chairs, SCRTD procurement specialist, told the board the manual increases the advertisement threshold from $10,000 to $60,000 and raises the board‑approval threshold for contracts from $20,000 to $100,000, excluding taxes. \"The threshold for advertising procurement projects has been raised from $10,000 to $60,000 bringing SCRTD policy in line with a new procurement New Mexico procurement code,\" she said.

Chairs explained the manual now defines small purchases as procurements up to $100,000 with different procedures for micro purchases under $10,000 and small purchases between $10,000 and $100,000. She noted the change also reflects federal small‑purchase guidance and the Federal Transit Administration's higher maximums while observing the New Mexico code sets a lower $60,000 threshold when state or local funds trigger that standard.

Board members asked about oversight and tracking. Councilor Flores asked how staff would ensure checks and balances with the higher thresholds; procurement staff and Finance Officer Adam Shea said projects remain subject to audit, insurance certificates and state review when applicable, and that many awards are already disclosed to the board through the budget process. Trustee Poway and Mayor Perea described similar changes in their municipalities and supported aligning SCRTD policy with state practice to reduce approval delays.

The motion to approve the procurement manual update passed in a roll call vote. No changes to the adopted thresholds were made in the meeting; board members discussed the idea of bringing some procurements to the board as consent agenda items for visibility but did not alter the adopted text.

Chairs and staff said they will update the procurement documentation and continue to present larger contracts (those above $100,000) for board approval and to track smaller procurements as part of regular budget reporting.","The board voted to adopt procurement manual updates that raise advertising and board‑approval thresholds to match New Mexico procurement standards and federal small‑purchase guidance, allowing staff more flexibility for routine purchases.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6156453,"South Central Regional Transit seeks $5 million for buses, facility upgrades and workforce training",1172,1168000,2340000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5469939-1be505bf2f04494908fb3005daf93fa1&start=1168&end=2340","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5469939-1be505bf2f04494908fb3005daf93fa1/thumbnail_1168000.jpg","/articles/6156453/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/South-Central-Regional-Transit-seeks-5-million-for-buses-facility-upgrades-and-workforce-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156453-60fde65707aa91487d58681cf20b2e11/orig.mp4?Expires=1770930761&Signature=nuScc9~sdt~5lgV1IHDaSuDZjzM7280LcN3e83VIcw04p-C7QrFC8AWBMaRq23hCQvtBmpL18cXXD2uf7M9dZa44zpuvNG3RIVld35LzspU6W1y3Z0lKk2bW41P-JHDJxrXlFWjngoMJEVALfjP7FNx5xmwrGTbueuoJvLlouSbkL9nVH~DgwLSoruX15k0W0wyoxLC1aQPflNxDYocUdwxC80fNQUk8~DkYwdTm9hG5Pd1Zb~1ldHZrqnJOufTE3qlZE-mh2YMW6p8gSzipkOKzkMEocf3RXEDkI5ScNp-aGvMj1N6SlsOEQg4wWgCVO9VJ6c529MpejP2TaYf9ug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","South Central Regional Transit District (SCRTD) Executive Director David Armijo told the board on July 23 that staff submitted two federal grant applications that together seek roughly $5 million to $5.0 million to buy buses, prepare facilities for electric vehicles and fund workforce training. The board received the update but took no formal vote on the grant submissions.

The grants matter because they would fund vehicle acquisitions, charging and facility improvements and training for mechanics and drivers, pieces SCRTD officials said are central to a 10‑year plan to expand regional service. \"In this category, we applied for $5,000,000. Yes. We're considered rural when we need to be considered rural,\" Armijo said.

Armijo described two applications. One is a larger rural-focused vehicle acquisition request totaling $5,000,000 that would buy buses (including hybrid options), fund workforce development and support facility integration tied to a planned new facility near La Mesa. He said the proposed project budgets $4,800,000 for vehicles and $240,000 for workforce development. The other application is under a bus and bus facilities program with an estimated project cost of about $2,100,000 that SCRTD proposed to fund with $1,700,000 in federal funds and $330,000 in local match; that package would add several midsize buses, three small electric vans, EV charging readiness work in the Sunland Park garage and equipment to support the district's computer-aided tracking (CAT), automatic vehicle location (AVL) and mobile app.

Armijo said the district decided to pursue hybrid/diesel propulsion for larger vehicles in part because hybrids can travel more miles between fueling than current electric buses. He added the midsize electric vans are intended as transition vehicles for microtransit and vanpool work. \"A single hybrid can fuel and go a minimum of 3,635 miles, where our electric buses are lucky to do 240 miles,\" Armijo said.

The executive director also showed a proposed map for a premium, limited-stop corridor connecting Las Cruces, Anthony and Sunland Park with potential onward service to El Paso International Airport. That plan would rely on existing park-and-ride locations and connections to SCRTD routes that serve New Mexico State University, Hatch and Anthony, and could include shuttles or circulators to connect riders to a central interchange point. Armijo said the airport service would likely be a premium, paid route and could be phased into the 10‑year plan if grant funding is secured.

Armijo described timing and risk: the bus-and-facilities grant expects award notices within about 60 days and, if funded, a compressed 12‑month implementation window for some elements. He said the district also plans a solar array (microgrid) at the Summit Park facility and identified the Summit Park garage as the near-term site for facility expansion and EV preparation.

Board members asked budget and procurement questions during the presentation; Councilor Flores sought clarity on which months the ridership totals covered and on the project's affordability and oversight. Armijo said ridership through June was about 11,453 for that month and 123,000 rides year to date and characterized the district's chances in rural-targeted grant pools as stronger when applying through the New Mexico state process.

No board motion to fund or to accept grant awards was taken; Armijo said staff would manage subrecipient versus direct-recipient requirements and pursue local matching funds where needed. He noted some state-level uncertainty about green projects but said staff had discussed priorities with the state secretary and would design \"big and beautiful projects\" he believes could compete.

If funded, the projects would require follow-up steps including procurement, facility design and potential matching funds from local sources; Armijo said staff and the district's legal counsel would manage procurement and compliance. The district plans additional public updates and return-to-board briefings as project details and awards are confirmed.","At a July board meeting, SCRTD Executive Director David Armijo described two federal grant applications that would fund vehicle purchases, facility upgrades, a planned solar microgrid and workforce development; no formal board vote was required on the grant strategy.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

SCRTD introduces two new staff members to board

Board approves FY2025 budget amendment and accepts fourth-quarter financial report

Board postpones employee handbook updates after member requests for clearer disciplinary language

Board approves higher procurement thresholds to align with state rules

South Central Regional Transit seeks $5 million for buses, facility upgrades and workforce training