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Roosevelt County commission adopts FY26 budget after staff cites cuts and flags state accounting discrepancy
Summary
The Roosevelt County Commission unanimously adopted Resolution 2025‑26 approving the Fiscal Year 2026 budget on July 30, 2025 after County Manager Drew Patterson said departmental cuts and updated projections reduced a projected $2 million deficit to a roughly $3,000 general‑fund surplus; county staff noted the state LGBMS shows a larger consolidated shortfall and the county attorney advised submitting the budget and seeking state assistance.
The Roosevelt County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution 2025‑26 approving the Fiscal Year 2026 budget during an emergency meeting on July 30, 2025 in Portales.
County Manager Drew Patterson told the commissioners he met with department heads and implemented requested cuts — including reductions to the sheriff’s vehicle requests and transfers of vehicles from the Assessor’s Office — and adjusted salary, insurance and revenue projections. Patterson said those changes moved the county “from a two‑million‑dollar deficit to a budget of about $3,000.00 to the positive” for the general fund.
Commissioner Malin Parker pressed for confirmation that all commission‑requested cuts had been captured and asked where the work product from prior budget meetings had been recorded. Patterson said he had not reviewed earlier minutes but had provided updated numbers to the county’s accounting firm, TKM, after meeting with department heads. Several elected officials — including the sheriff, clerk and assessor — told the commission they felt confident their individual budgets were accurate.
After a recess to gather information, Patterson said he called Mark at TKM, and that TKM explained the county’s in‑house system (Incode) does not map directly onto the state’s Local Government Budget and Financial Reporting System (LGBMS). According to Patterson’s recounting of the firm’s explanation, the roughly $3,000 surplus he cited applies only to the general fund; the LGBMS summary consolidates the general fund, fixed assets and other funds (including Road Fund 402), investments and debt service, and that consolidated view showed a shortfall of just over $1 million.
County Attorney Michael Garcia advised that it would be better to submit the budget by the deadline and contact the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration to explain the discrepancy and seek assistance, rather than miss the filing deadline.
Commissioner Paul Grider moved to adopt Resolution 2025‑26; Commissioner Roy Lee Criswell seconded. The motion passed with Commissioners Grider, Criswell, Dixon, Parker and Munoz voting yes. The meeting was adjourned at 11:27 a.m.
The resolution and supporting materials were adopted as presented in the meeting record; commissioners did not specify additional follow‑up deadlines at the session.
