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Lea County commissioners create permanent fund, approve income fund and multiple contracts
Summary
The Lea County Board of County Commissioners on June 1 approved a permanent fund ordinance and companion income fund, renewed a $2.31 million detainee medical contract, awarded an $807,936 HVAC contract, approved a $1.25 million regional grant and adopted a 4% cost‑of‑living increase for full‑time employees.
Lea County commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance to establish a permanent fund and a companion income fund on June 1, creating a voter‑protected corpus and a separate account to collect interest that the county may use following later decisions.
At a public hearing, county counsel John Caldwell explained the statutory basis for the permanent fund, citing New Mexico law (‘‘this ordinance will establish a permanent fund’’), and told commissioners that money placed in the fund’s corpus could not be spent except after voter approval. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about governance and signaled support before voting to adopt the ordinance.
The board also approved County Ordinance 103 to create an income fund that would receive interest earned on the permanent fund; the income fund’s use will be decided by the commission at a future meeting.
On financial and procurement items, the commission voted to:
- Renew the county’s agreement with Roadrunner Health Services to provide detainee medical, mental‑health and dental services for FY 2025–26. Detention director Mark Gallegos said the three‑part contract would cost an estimated $2,313,768 for the year after a 2.5% rate increase and noted a dental option priced as an additional cost for clinic days. The board approved the renewal by roll call.
- Award RFP No. 9 for HVAC maintenance and repairs to Donner Plumbing. Procurement staff said the one‑year contract is budgeted at $807,936 and covers roughly 600,000 square feet across county facilities; commissioners approved the award.
- Approve a regional grant totaling $1,253,889 (effective July 1) shared across participating counties, with line‑item allocations provided in the staff report; the commission authorized acceptance of the grant.
- Approve asset disposition of one vehicle and 41 obsolete laptops (purchased in 2012) as presented by finance staff.
- Adopt a 4% cost‑of‑living adjustment for all full‑time county employees (excluding contract employees and elected officials). County staff said the proposed increase slightly exceeds the Department of Labor CPI figure and aligns with other local government employers.
Other board actions included approval of the county’s five‑year Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan, memoranda of agreement with the City of Hobbs to share revenue‑guarantee obligations for regional air service (including a possible Lee County share up to $2,000,720 for United Airlines service and a six‑month trial guarantee for JSX service with a $500,000 cap), and routine travel authorizations for county staff and commissioners.
The meeting also included a motion—and unanimous roll‑call vote—to convene a closed executive session to discuss threatened litigation involving contracts and the acquisition or disposal of real property as authorized under NMSA 1978. The commission returned to approve entertainment contracts for the county fair and then adjourned.
Votes at a glance
- Resolution 25‑155R (discretionary funding to city dog pound, $4,000): Approved, roll‑call yeses recorded.
- Ordinance establishing county permanent fund: Approved, roll‑call yeses recorded.
- Ordinance 103 (county income fund): Approved, roll‑call yeses recorded.
- Grant acceptance (multi‑county total $1,253,889): Approved, roll‑call yeses recorded.
- Roadrunner Health Services contract renewal (FY25–26; $2,313,768 annual): Approved, roll‑call yeses recorded.
- HVAC maintenance RFP award to Donner Plumbing ($807,936): Approved, roll‑call yeses recorded.
- MOA revenue guarantee with City of Hobbs (United Airlines; county share up to $2,000,720): Approved, roll‑call yeses recorded.
- MOA trial for JSX (county share up to $250,000 of a $500,000 guarantee): Approved, roll‑call yeses recorded.
- 4% COLA for full‑time employees: Approved, roll‑call yeses recorded.
What happens next
The permanent fund’s corpus will be set and funded in future budget decisions and any use of corpus funds will require voter approval. Staff will bring implementation details for the income fund and report back on contract execution and any needed follow‑up items described during the meeting.
