Commissioners approve debt reallocations; Canutillo community center roof repairs flagged as urgent

El Paso County Commissioners on June 9 approved coordinated financial reallocations across three debt issuances — the 2016 general obligation refunding bonds (series D), the 2022 tax anticipation note, and the 2023 certificates of obligation (series A and B) — to close legacy issuances, reprogram completed projects and accelerate the spend‑down of tax‑exempt proceeds.

Jose Almedos, strategic capital development, presented the multi‑step plan. The changes include programming a previously expensed design item into the 2016 series D so the 2016 issuance can be closed out; consolidating and moving certain Scott At The Park projects between the 2023 A and B series to align spend timelines and tax status; and establishing new project groupings for Escott At The Park design and construction and for the senior nutrition kitchen. The proposed reallocations returned funds from completed projects (Fabens Dam, Mankato Pond) to contingency and moved other eligible costs into the appropriate issuances.

Almedos said the steps increase the county’s spend‑down of the tax‑exempt 2023 series A proceeds from about 11% to roughly 40% by moving already‑incurred eligible costs into that series. Commissioners and staff said the work will help close older issuances and free up contingency balances in newer notes.

At the request of Commissioner Tony Coronado, the court also considered an urgent, separate funding need at the Canutillo Community Center (Gallegos Park). Marissa Nunez, senior policy adviser to Commissioner Coronado, described roof leaks, interior water intrusion into a sealed room, rotting door frames, damaged ceiling tiles in public and kitchen areas and an urgent need to prevent further damage before monsoon season. Nunez asked the court to consider drawing a portion of the 2022 tax‑note contingency to address roof repairs and immediate health/safety issues; she also proposed an adjacent community garden/greenhouse pilot to support senior‑nutrition programming and AgriLife Extension partnership.

County facilities staff reported they already have some materials and can provide more detailed repair quotes quickly. Commissioners instructed staff to prioritize immediate roof and water‑damage repairs and to return promptly with precise cost estimates and a recommended funding source; the court did not commit to the greenhouse funding at the June 9 session. The larger reallocations—and the motion to authorize the staff to finalize account transfers and adjust balances—passed on a motion from Judge Samaniego and a second from Commissioner Butler.

What the decision does and next steps

- The court approved reallocations and project closeouts described in the staff backup, authorized the chief administrator and county auditor to finalize account transfers and adjust balances, and asked for follow‑up reporting on adjustments made. - Staff will return with detailed cost estimates and an implementation plan for the Canutillo Community Center immediate roof/flood repairs; the court prioritized those urgent safety repairs ahead of the longer‑term GO bond planning and land acquisition that could eventually fund a new facility. - Commissioners directed facilities and capital planning to coordinate timelines so the county can close older bond series and remain compliant with federal rules for tax‑exempt proceeds.