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State lawmakers say $15.2 million in capital outlay will fund Grant County projects, including cancer center equipment
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Summary
Sen. Gabriel Ramos and Rep. Luis Terrazas briefed the Grant County Board of Commissioners on the 2026 legislative session, citing roughly $15.2 million in capital outlay for local projects and emphasizing funding for cancer-treatment equipment and road improvements.
Sen. Gabriel Ramos and Rep. Luis Terrazas told the Grant County Board of Commissioners on March 12 that the 2026 legislative session produced a series of capital outlay allocations for the region, including what they described as roughly $15,200,000 targeted to projects in Grant County.
Sen. Gabriel Ramos said the package includes funding to replace a hospital linear accelerator and a range of road, water and park projects. "We're able to bring $15,200,000 to Grant County," he said, adding that the linear accelerator allocation was routed through House Bill 2 and was confirmed as part of the budget process.
Rep. Luis Terrazas said legislators in the district secured funding for 27 projects and underscored limitations on discretionary dollars that must be shared among multiple counties. "We tried because I get $2,500,000 to share amongst 3 counties," he said, and urged local governments to prioritize projects on their ICIP lists to improve chances of state funding.
Both lawmakers highlighted several specific capital items discussed during their presentations: a roughly $5.5 million replacement linear accelerator for the regional cancer center; road and drainage improvements in Baird, Hurley and other communities; water-system upgrades; and parks and school facility projects. Ramos and Terrazas thanked local advocates and lobbying groups for attending the Roundhouse and pressing priorities.
Why it matters: Capital outlay and infrastructure appropriations fund one-time projects that can reshape local services and health-care access. Lawmakers emphasized the effect of these targeted allocations on both clinical capacity — the linear accelerator, in particular, will allow treatment closer to patients who otherwise travel to Albuquerque or El Paso — and long-term maintenance of roads and water systems.
The presentation closed with questions from commissioners about road priorities and the distribution of large bond and capital packages; both lawmakers urged the county and municipalities to coordinate on ICIP priorities and noted that high construction costs mean limited funds can cover only short stretches of roadway.
What comes next: The board did not take action on the lawmakersremarks; the presentation was informational and the county will coordinate with municipal officials and hospital leadership on project implementation and timelines.
