Doña Ana County establishes youth commission, allocates $100,000 to start program

Summary

The county approved two resolutions creating a Youth Commission to begin Jan. 2026, funding it with $20,000 already in the FY26 budget plus an $80,000 allocation from general fund reserves; the program will recruit 30 high school students (10 per school district) and compensate them up to $13/hour for up to 15 hours per month.

Doña Ana County commissioners voted Nov. 14 to create a Youth Commission aimed at engaging high‑school‑age students in county policy and leadership. County staff proposed recruiting 30 students (ten from each of the three county school districts), providing training and requiring a commitment of up to 15 hours per month. Students will be eligible for compensation at $13 per hour for up to 15 hours monthly.

County staff said $20,000 for the initiative was included in the FY26 budget; the commission approved an $80,000 allocation from general fund reserves to scale initial operations and support stipends, outreach, and program projects. Commissioners emphasized inclusion of charter and homeschooled students by grouping participants according to their home school district and said they plan outreach and selection policies to ensure geographic equity.

Commission discussion highlighted potential capstone projects, partnership opportunities with community centers and schools, and digital‑literacy use. The board voted unanimously to adopt the resolutions (2025‑143 and 2025‑144) establishing the program and funding.