[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6152535,"mediaKeyId","5498128-d2166af8d1b8a6ca85d14d1603f492eb","parentId",5498128,"title","Dona Ana County adopts $403.93 million FY26 final budget, uses reserves for one-time projects","audioSeconds",710,"startMs",2080000,"endMs",2790000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5498128-d2166af8d1b8a6ca85d14d1603f492eb&start=2080&end=2790","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5498128-d2166af8d1b8a6ca85d14d1603f492eb/thumbnail_2080000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6152535/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/Dona-Ana-County-adopts-40393-million-FY26-final-budget-uses-reserves-for-one-time-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6152535-945f86aa5ce83a27c4e12fa0bfa3ad11/orig.mp4?Expires=1773078490&Signature=BWJf8RoubH7Azoqf1zkMjAJ2ajaoxZwZcp7r1PYAxEGcRmZsWvScYCrkBCj9PwyVx2mKjwJDhWRjaDdFtiPXyOgwX4~V2zli-UgYyJaieiNNZ3lUDibrglRE-rH9-mkHiMOKl3oXUsB6coJf~hRPxzGU~cIZjdBUXxa32y~aoWGUhG2qBIAetEK5Mlh6JtPP3woqqbnm~~4DqtmxDzrgi5xnQ49~FCF92~BKARzQZjuIeljplP7tbhtHWUU1t7ixyUl1vymYpaqQpBDAPc0B9BVW~jd-WuzvJswA6LRUGkuYczoTccj6AOrbrSoDGJ-0sD2B4PeWAR4dSAPaZJGCFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dona Ana County, NM","date","2025-07-29T14:24:23Z","article","Dona Ana County commissioners adopted the county's FY25-26 final budget, approving Resolution 2025-89 and a total budget of approximately $403.93 million.

The motion to adopt the final budget was made by the chair and seconded by Commissioner Gamedos; the resolution passed by recorded vote with Commissioner Ramirez, Commissioner Sanchez and Chair Sheldrow Hernandez voting yes.

Nut graf: The final budget increases revenues from the preliminary proposal and budgets one-time uses of cash reserves for capital projects and grants while preserving a small recurring surplus. The package funds personnel adjustments, negotiated pay plan changes, grant programs and several capital expenditures the board previously approved.

Lucio Luttrell of the county budget office summarized changes between the preliminary and final budgets. Revenues rose by about $29.7 million, from $312.1 million to $341.8 million, driven by higher payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILT) receipts, increased landfill punch-card fee revenue (a $4-to-$5-per-punch change approved at a prior meeting) and law-enforcement protection fund carryover. Department grant budgets increased by about $29.53 million.

Expenditures increased by about $16.55 million, to a total of $403.93 million. Personnel increases included two positions added in the final budget (an HR administrator and an outreach position for the La Mesa Community Center), budget to reflect a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for represented staff and an estimated $285,000 impact for recently approved blue-collar pay-plan negotiations. Capital and one-time additions include fire tax projects and new capital purchases; Luttrell said the budgeted capital adjustments total roughly $3.06 million and that the county is budgeting remaining cash in the fire-tax fund now that the restricted GRT for fire tax has ended.

The final budget includes countywide tax revenues of about $165.4 million, service revenues of $33.2 million, other revenues of $9.9 million and investment revenue of about $5.02 million for operating revenues near $213.6 million, plus grant revenues of approximately $128.0 million. Luttrell presented an ending cash projection of $111.1 million before reserve requirements; after applying a 25% general fund reserve and a one-twelfth road fund reserve the adjusted ending cash is $79.5 million. Luttrell said the adopted package represents a planned use of reserves of about $62.0 million for primarily one-time items.

The board discussed several specific allocations previously approved and carried into the FY26 budget. Luttrell said the budget includes a $1.2 million grant program funded from hospital lease fund reserves to support municipal fire-based emergency medical services (to be distributed to the City of Las Cruces, the Town of Mesilla and the City of Sunland Park). The county also budgeted $1.35 million for fire, ambulance and EMS equipment approved from the hospital lease fund, and $200,000 from reserves for pilot water filtration and bottle-filling stations in Santa Teresa and Raymond Springs areas.

Luttrell noted that after removing one-time uses the county shows a recurring surplus: \"We actually have a recurring budget surplus of $2,100,000,\" he said. The surplus is intended to help absorb future costs the county expects when federal SAFER grant funding (which temporarily supports 24 firefighters) expires.

Commissioners and staff thanked the budget office and accounting teams for the presentation and supporting notes. Treasurer and county staff noted significant last-minute postings and cross-training work to finalize year-end numbers.

Next steps: the budget will be submitted to the Department of Finance and Administration for review; Luttrell said DFA normally takes about a month and typically issues approval by Sept. 1. The board also noted the FY26 budget sets the baseline for the next budget cycle and for an anticipated bond (GoBond) initiative the board has discussed.

Ending: There was no public comment on the final budget at the meeting. The board's approval completes the county's formal FY25-26 budget process for local adoption.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners Budget Work Session - July 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board adopted the FY25-26 final budget (Resolution 2025-89). The $403.93 million budget increases revenues and expenditures from the preliminary plan, funds new personnel and capital items, includes municipal EMS grants from the hospital lease fund, and shows a recurring surplus after one-time uses.","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},6152540,"Dona Ana County commissioners approve fourth-quarter FY25 financial report ending June 30, 2025",905,1096000,2001000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5498128-d2166af8d1b8a6ca85d14d1603f492eb&start=1096&end=2001","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5498128-d2166af8d1b8a6ca85d14d1603f492eb/thumbnail_1096000.jpg","/articles/6152540/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/Dona-Ana-County-commissioners-approve-fourth-quarter-FY25-financial-report-ending-June-30-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6152540-ba1322a14d17ec8c097e54788a1bf00e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773078490&Signature=AsM1AstxgWN1tnBmsq43k3PTDqHMV-d7NmZus4zW~cpfoWjAaxXeODl2HJo9qcATCHITFEk~B43~RnAyEUB1YAsGwQe4m-9P81ja0vIHEXkaKh2q~Y7uxbUSl3itxTwNSrvnx9lN00rDTAdCUkN98irHoMnyMaohtmIBbmccO2yGVZ~ZEeYL6a21Ox-fwkmWzZe9I4wTuA0iOojeKAD8EmKRD1KQKYTy4I14RqneO339U82Xs0MvNOx5pD-tME6GIPoBQd3cC145w4eDAljvwPVqG-Tr~3iOkkQqdfCmzTcQn5ORzLnkl1~Mil6OZSUofn0f4N76v9a52b6405yHUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dona Ana County commissioners voted to approve a resolution accepting the county's fiscal year 2024-25 fourth-quarter financial report, which closes the year ended June 30, 2025.

The board approved Resolution 2025-88 by roll call; the motion was moved by Commissioner Gamedos and seconded by staff member Brandy. Commissioners Gamedos, Sanchez and Chair Sheldrow Hernandez voted yes and the resolution carried.

The report, presented by Lucio Luttrell of the county budget office, showed total countywide revenues of about $263.73 million against an adjusted revenue budget of roughly $371.6 million for grants and other multiyear items; operating revenues (taxes, service and other operating receipts) came in at about $204.0 million. \"We want that number to be at 100% or higher,\" Luttrell said in reference to operating revenue performance.

Nut graf: The fourth-quarter report is the county's year-end accounting of how prior budgeted revenues and expenditures performed and identifies multiyear grants and capital projects that will carry into the next fiscal year. Commissioners said the presentation and supporting notes made the county's financial position clearer and easier to monitor.

Key figures and fiscal notes from the presentation include: countywide revenues of $263,730,000 and expenditures of $272,800,000, producing an ending cash balance of $173,230,000 after adjustments; general fund operating revenue of $122.4 million against an adjusted budget of $120.0 million; and total county operations actuals of about $190.15 million against a $205.2 million operations budget (93%). Luttrell attributed lower grant and capital spending percentages to multiyear projects and to budgeted grant balances that carry forward.

Departments that exceeded their annual operating budgets were highlighted and explained by Luttrell. Human Resources and the auditor each finished roughly 10% over their adjusted operating budgets, primarily because a 27th pay period posted in the fiscal year and because the auditor had no vacancy-related offset. Risk management overspent by about $143,000 because of timing and cost of general and law enforcement liability insurance. Detention center overages (about $338,000) were tied to the 27th pay period, overtime and a new pay plan negotiated in the fall.

Restricted funds showed larger year-to-year movement: restricted cash declined from about $79 million at the start of the year to $48.7 million at year end, a change Luttrell said was driven in part by a Spaceport GRT distribution made in June.

Luttrell told the board the county will submit the fourth-quarter report and supporting schedules to the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) as the next step. Commissioners and staff thanked budget office and accounting staff for producing concise notes and for weekend work that allowed the board to review detailed schedules in advance. \"Lucio, you and your team have done a fabulous job,\" Commissioner Sanchez said during the meeting.

Ending: There was no public comment on the item. The approved report will be filed with DFA and incorporated into the county's records for FY25.","The Board of County Commissioners approved Resolution 2025-88 accepting the county's fiscal year 2024-25 fourth-quarter financial report, receiving an overview of revenues, expenditures and cash balances and noting several multiyear grants and carryovers that will roll into next year's budget.","actionData","errors"]

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Dona Ana County adopts $403.93 million FY26 final budget, uses reserves for one-time projects

Dona Ana County commissioners approve fourth-quarter FY25 financial report ending June 30, 2025