Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Finances topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Doña Ana County touts $140M GO Bond, two‑year budget shift and Project Jupiter gains in 2026 State of the County
Summary
County leaders emphasized fiscal strength—$173M in reserves and a $43M FY2026 budget—announced a shift to a two‑year budget cycle, highlighted a voter‑approved $140M GO Bond for community centers and infrastructure, and pointed to Project Jupiter as a major new economic driver.
Doña Ana County Chair Manuel Sanchez and County Manager Scott Andrews used the 2026 State of the County address to highlight the county's fiscal position and a slate of investments they say will shape the next several years.
"We're in a great place fiscally," County Manager Scott Andrews said, reporting that the county entered fiscal 2026 with a $43 million budget and about $173 million in reserves — a 59% year‑end reserve where the general fund target is 25%. He added the county's investment strategy generated roughly $5.5 million in income, about a 3% return.
The county described a planned shift to a two‑year budget cycle as a step to reduce annual administrative duplication and to align multi‑year infrastructure projects with funding timelines. "It will help reduce annual administrative duplication... and free up time to focus on our long‑term strategic goals," said Eric Alvides, the county's performance and budget manager.
Voters also approved a GO Bond reported at $140 million, officials said, to fund multiple community centers, parks projects and related infrastructure across the county. "Instead of concentrating resources into one single facility, the commission chose a model that invests in multiple community centers across the county," Chair Sanchez said, stressing geographic equity for a county covering nearly 4,000 square miles.
Officials framed the county's fiscal strength as enabling investment in emergency preparedness, roads, water projects and workforce development rather than relying solely on debt. The administration pointed to several completed or ongoing capital projects in 2025, including an elections warehouse, flood infrastructure, road improvements and investments in EV charging capacity.
The address closed with a call to continued public engagement. "Progress does not happen when people walk away. It happens when people stay engaged," Chair Sanchez said. The county listed short‑term priorities including a mobile voting unit, transitional housing, community center upgrades funded by the GO Bond, a fully operational emergency operations center and ongoing road and fire service improvements.
