Las Cruces council adopts FY 2026–27 budget after amendment to protect community schools funding

The Las Cruces City Council voted unanimously on May 18 to adopt the city’s fiscal year 2026–27 municipal budget, approving a proposal that leaves the general fund at about $167.9 million and closes a previously projected gap through a mix of cuts and revenue adjustments.

Finance Director Leslie Doyle walked the council through the proposal, saying the package represents “a 2.2% increase” to the general fund from the prior year and that overall city revenues are projected at about $186.4 million, with gross receipts tax accounting for roughly 79% of receipts. Doyle said the proposed budget reduces expenditures from earlier drafts, trimming personnel and operating costs and carrying an available fund balance of about $20 million.

Council and department leaders described targeted service reductions to meet the numbers. Carol Bray, director of the Quality of Life Department, said her team carried out a 42.3% reduction in operations—about $1.16 million—leading to fewer paid instructors and performers at museum events, reduced Brannigan Library hours (proposed to drop from 64 to 56 weekly hours), elimination or restructuring of some studio art classes, and potential wait lists for home‑based senior services. Parks and Recreation Director Stephen Bingham said the department will scale back nonessential events and extend maintenance schedules, while interim Public Works Director Kyle Arndt said crews will prioritize safety‑critical streetlights and shift some repaving work from full asphalt rehabs to lower‑cost surface treatments.

Public comment ahead of the vote included appeals for maintaining community‑facing programs. Pamela Court, president of the Las Cruces Public Schools board, urged continued support for Community Schools, and several residents asked the council to preserve library and neighborhood services.

In response, councilors moved an amendment to the budget to allocate $60,000 from the Tel Shore Fund to restore Community Schools funding. The council approved the amendment by voice and roll call, and then adopted Resolution 26‑142 as amended. The roll call in the record shows every present councilor voting in favor.

City officials said the budget includes steps to continue evaluating revenue and efficiencies through two newly convened committees—realignment, and revenue & efficiencies—and noted continued uncertainty in some grant and insurance projections. Leslie Doyle told councilors staff will return with additional monitoring information and mid‑year updates.

The council adjourned following several other agenda items, leaving attendees with the immediate impacts of service reductions and the newly secured community schools funding as the next implementation steps.