Lawmakers move LFC budget recommendation for New Mexico Border Authority after trade, project briefing

The Appropriations & Finance subcommittee moved the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) recommendation for the New Mexico Border Authority’s FY26 operating budget after hearing a presentation on trade growth and several capital projects.

The board’s executive director, Gerardo Fierro, presented trade and project data and asked the committee to reconsider a 3% budget increase that the authority requested. Fierro said Santa Teresa port‑of‑entry trade rose sharply year‑to‑date and highlighted infrastructure work under way at Santa Teresa and Columbus. “We have partnered with U.S. and Mexican customs and trade organizations to streamline cross‑border commerce,” Fierro said, and later asked the committee to “respectfully request reconsideration of the proposed budget and approval of the 3% increase.”

The LFC analyst, Julissa Rodriguez, told members the difference between the LFC and the executive recommendation was small for the recurring operating budget: the executive recommended roughly $7,600 (about a 3% increase) while the LFC recommended a 1.6% increase. Rodriguez also flagged two informational “specials” — a $78,600 request for the New Mexico‑Chihuahua and New Mexico‑Sonora commissions and a $200,000 request for special program managers for capital‑outlay projects — that LFC did not recommend while the executive did.

Why it matters: Santa Teresa and Columbus are major cross‑border trade gateways for New Mexico; the authority said growth at Santa Teresa has been strong and that several infrastructure projects (port‑of‑entry expansion, a Columbus water tank and berm, wastewater pond work, and Border Highway Connector design and construction) are moving forward. The agency said those projects require staff experienced in capital planning and interagency coordination and that competitive salaries and travel costs have risen.

During Q&A, members pressed about animal and commercial traffic logistics and recent interruptions to cattle imports after disease concerns. Fierro said a new protocol approved by USDA and Mexican authorities would permit cattle imports to resume after reinspection and quarantine processes are completed and that reopening would take weeks, not days. Representative Chatfield asked whether reopened cattle would need to be reinspected; Fierro answered that the backlog would require cattle to go through the process again.

Action: A committee member moved the LFC recommendation; the motion was seconded and the committee approved the LFC recommendation. The committee noted staff will follow up with the agency on budget and special requests.

Key numbers and details provided by the authority include a year‑to‑date Santa Teresa trade value the director reported as $37,300,000,000 (a reported 46% increase year over year through November), and the agency’s request for a 3% operating increase compared with the LFC’s 1.6% recommendation. The transcript includes two informational special requests totaling $278,600 (one for $78,600 and one for $200,000). The committee recorded the LFC recommendation as moved and approved; specific vote tallies were not provided on the record.

The committee said it will ask staff (LFC and HAFC staff) to bring back any necessary adjustments in the coming weeks.