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Taos lobbyist reports $9.2 million for town in 2025 capital outlay; seeks congressional earmarks for road, park and sewer projects
Summary
Lobbyist Amalio Madueno briefed the council on the 2025 New Mexico legislative session, saying the town ultimately secured roughly $9.2 million in appropriations and is pursuing congressional directed spending (earmarks) for Ranchitos Road, Felipe Sanchez Park and wastewater work.
Amalio Madueno, the town’s contract lobbyist, summarized work during the 2025 New Mexico legislative session and the subsequent congressional directed‑spending (earmark) process.
Session highlights: Madueno told the council the legislative session was intense and required multiple, repetitive contacts with state delegation staff and the governor’s outlay portal team. He said the town’s capital outlay requests were entered into both the regular legislative process and the governor’s outlay portal so the requests could receive broader consideration.
Allocation results: Madueno said the town did not receive funding for every priority but that the town and county together secured substantial capital outlay. Manager Lupe Martinez told the council that “of that about $9,200,000 came to the town of Taos.” The town’s portfolio of requests and partial wins will guide federal follow-up work.
Congressional directed spending (earmarks): After the session, Madueno said the town pursued congressional directed spending for projects that the state session did not fully fund. He described a multi-step federal application process — letters of intent, letters of support from local partners, and a scope-of-work packet with engineering and cost details. Madueno said the town had submitted letters of intent for at least three projects: Ranchitos Road (he and staff later referenced a $1.6 million paving project), Felipe Sanchez Park revitalization and wastewater treatment plant improvements, and that the town was assembling supportive documentation and partner letters ahead of an April 28 federal deadline.
Why it matters: Federal earmarks are discretionary and must be requested through congressional offices; Madueno described them as an additional avenue to secure funding for shovel‑ready projects. Manager Martinez said the Ranchitos Road proposal is shovel‑ready and was an immediate focus for congressional follow-up.
Next steps: Staff and the lobbyist will continue to prepare scope of work packages and collect letters of support from county and regional partners before federal applications are finalized. Madueno recommended the town begin strategic planning for next year’s state capital outlay priorities and to consider internships and civic education as ways to increase local capacity for advocacy.
Ending: Councilors thanked Madueno and staff and asked for continued help to complete federal applications and to coordinate next-year state capital outlay priorities.
