Alamogordo votes to withdraw from Tularosa Basin regional dispatch authority after months of complaints

The Alamogordo City Commission voted 4-3 on April 22, 2025, to begin withdrawing the city from the Tularosa Basin Regional Dispatch Authority in accordance with the authority's joint powers agreement, after public testimony from current and former dispatchers and repeated complaints from city public-safety officials about dispatch errors and governance.

The vote follows months of discussion and a series of public comments from former Taburta dispatchers who described management problems after the consolidation of city and county dispatch operations. Former Taburta dispatchers Mikayla Finnegan and Rachel Craig told the commission they had left because of hostile work environment concerns and management practices they said undermined training and morale. "It's time for the city to step up and take back your dispatch center, your employees, and take control of the safety of your officers and your citizens," Finnegan said during public comment.

City public-safety leaders including Alamogordo Police and Fire Department officials also told the commission they had repeatedly raised concerns about incorrect or delayed dispatch information and the difficulty of obtaining fire-specific dispatching expertise under the consolidated structure. A written statement from Chief Kunihiro, read aloud at the meeting, said the chief would support separation if Otero County and the Taburta board would not amend the joint powers agreement to give the board the authority to hire, supervise and, if necessary, terminate the 9-1-1 director. Fire Chief Ramirez told commissioners the city had repeatedly tried to resolve problems and that incorrect or incomplete information over the radio had put first responders at risk.

City staff and commissioners cited governance and budgetary concerns in addition to operational complaints. Commissioners said the city currently pays roughly $1 million toward Taburta and had been asked to shoulder 60% of a roughly $4.2 million budget, while alleging the county had renewed the director's employment contract without board approval and repeatedly cancelled board meetings requested to address changes to the joint powers agreement.

City Attorney Ashley Smith explained the withdrawal process during the meeting: the joint powers agreement requires a 180-day written notice to withdraw. Staff estimated technical and equipment costs to re-establish a separate municipal dispatch center at about $300,000 to remove servers and separate systems from the county; Acting City Manager Dr. Stephanie Hernandez said the city could have an in-house dispatch operation running within the 180-day period if it provided the required notice and funding.

Commissioners Warren Robinson moved for withdrawal; Mayor Pro Tem Sharon McDonald seconded. The motion carried 4-3. The roll-call vote was not recorded in the public portion of the transcript. Commissioners and staff said the action is intended to protect public safety and restore operational control over police and fire dispatching.

The commission and city staff repeatedly encouraged negotiation and a joint meeting with county leadership as an alternative before the vote. Commissioners said they had sought amendments to the joint powers agreement and the director's employment contract to align responsibilities and oversight but that scheduled Taburta board meetings repeatedly were cancelled, preventing resolution.

The commission's action requires a written notice under the joint powers agreement; staff said they would draft that notice. The commission did not vote on a detailed implementation plan at the meeting; staff will develop cost estimates and operational timelines for re-establishing a municipal dispatch center and report back to the commission.

Votes at a glance - Motion to withdraw the City of Alamogordo from the Tularosa Basin Regional Dispatch Authority (per the joint powers agreement): mover Commissioner Warren Robinson; seconder Mayor Pro Tem Sharon McDonald; outcome: approved, 4-3; note: withdrawal requires 180-day written notice; implementation costs and timeline to be developed by staff.

Why it matters: Dispatch consolidation affects emergency response for police, fire and medical services countywide. Commissioners said the city lacked meaningful oversight and that repeated operational failures and governance disputes risked public safety and exposed the city to potential liability.

Next steps: City staff will draft the required written notice and develop a plan and cost estimate to restore municipal dispatch capability; commissioners asked staff to pursue a joint meeting with county leaders and the Taburta board before transition steps proceed.