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County manager: triage center and clerk's office projects preserved in session; Pinion Hills bridge funding vetoed
Summary
The county manager reported some capital projects were fully funded in the recent legislative session while priority language and specific funding for the Pinion Hills connector were line-item vetoed by the governor.
San Juan County's manager updated the commission on the just-concluded state legislative session on April 15, reporting that several county capital projects received full funding but that targeted priority language for the Pinion Hills connector was vetoed by the governor.
The manager said the capital appropriation for the county's triage center remained intact at $7,000,000 and that requested funds for the clerk's office expansion and security upgrades ($2.5 million) and $200,000 for EMS Station 6 design and land acquisition also remained in place. "I'm happy to report that the capital projects that we had received stayed intact and we did not suffer a line item veto," he told commissioners.
However, language that would have prioritized funding to complete the Pinion Hills connector project was removed by a gubernatorial line-item veto; the manager said he already is working with the New Mexico Department of Transportation and legislators to find alternate funding before the next session. He noted the county did obtain other road-related funding through the session but said completing the connector will require additional work between now and the next session.
Why it matters: Capital appropriations affect the county's ability to start or finish infrastructure and public-safety projects. The triage center and clerk's office projects will proceed with funding, but the vetoed Pinion Hills language leaves a planning and funding gap the county intends to address through discussions with NMDOT and legislators.
The manager asked staff to pursue options and report back; commissioners asked for continued outreach with NMDOT and legislators to secure funding for the unfinished connector.
