South Central Regional Transit District approves budget amendment, adopts third-quarter financials

The South Central Regional Transit District voted to approve a budget amendment for fiscal year 2024–25 and adopted its third-quarter financial report after presentations by finance staff.

Adam Shea, finance officer for the district, presented the budget amendment and the quarter-end financials. Shea said the requested amendment increased expenditures by $23,250.95 and revised revenues upward by $89,172.91, producing a projected carryover of $208,121.17. He told the board the amendment included a $278,010.50 New Mexico match and reflected reclassifications and updated revenue recognition, and that a $60,000 commercial loan had been taken for the recent Sunland Park facility purchase.

The amendment passed on a roll-call vote. Mayor Padilla moved the resolution and Mayor Hernandez seconded. The board recorded five affirmative votes; the chair announced: “The item passes, 5 votes.”

Shea then reviewed the district’s financial position as of March 31, 2025. He reported $310,484.71 in the district bank account and said total operating expenditures of $2,177,024.46 represent 72.3% of the budget. Personnel services were $1,278,972.15, or about 73% of budgeted personnel costs; Shea later confirmed payroll represented roughly 57.6% of overall expenditures. On the revenue side, Shea said the district had collected $2,235,400.93 (69.5% of budget) and had received $4,833,820.48 in capital revenue to date (35.6% of the capital budget), reflecting the recent facility purchase and vehicle acquisitions.

A separate resolution to adopt the district’s third-quarter financials was moved by Mayor Perea and seconded by Mayor Hernandez. That resolution also carried on a roll-call vote.

Board members asked clarifying questions about budget timing and payroll percentages; Shea answered that the district’s fiscal year runs July 1–June 30 and confirmed the payroll percentage on request. There were no recorded amendments to either resolution during debate.

The board also voted to approve the minutes of its March 26 meeting earlier in the agenda. That motion was moved and seconded and approved by roll call.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution approving FY 2024–25 budget amendment — Mover: Mayor Padilla; Second: Mayor Hernandez; Outcome: approved (5–0). Recorded affirmative votes announced; roll call confirmed five yes votes. - Resolution adopting third-quarter (Q3 2025) financials — Mover: Mayor Perea; Second: Mayor Hernandez; Outcome: approved (roll call yes votes recorded; item passes). - Approval of minutes (03/26/2025) — Mover: Mooji Pally; Second: (recorded second); Outcome: approved (roll call yes votes recorded).

The board’s approval of the amendment and of the financials will be reflected in the district’s accounting records and in the operating and capital budget ledgers; staff did not announce any immediate programmatic changes contingent on the amendments.