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Commission approves Lodgers Tax awards and encumbers funding for key local events
Summary
The commission approved Resolution 77 58 allocating Lodgers Tax funds to a slate of local events for FY2026, including awards for Hispanic Heritage Night, Juneteenth, rodeos and chamber events; commissioners asked staff to hold or encumber funding for a major tournament until application details were confirmed.
The commission approved Resolution 77 58, authorizing allocations from the City of Hobbs Lodgers Tax fund to support scheduled events and tourism-related activities in fiscal year 2026.
Assistant Finance Director Deb Corral summarized the Lodgers Tax Board recommendations and staff adjustments. She said year-to-date Lodgers Tax revenue was about $1.3 million with $1.4 million spent and the current balance stood at approximately $1.8 million. Staff recommendations included awards such as $100,000 for the Hispanic Heritage Celebration Night (staff-recommended down from a requested $136,750), $22,200 for the New Mexico Junior High and High School Rodeo finals, and a maximum staff award of $25,000 recommended for Hobbs Juneteenth amid a board abstention on that item.
Several applications—most notably a request from the Economic Development Corporation of Lee County for $200,000—were included with staff recommendations, and staff noted some items had no board recommendation because of abstentions or an incomplete application timeline. Commissioner discussion focused on ensuring applicants appear before the Lodgers Tax Board as required and on whether to place a temporary hold on one long-standing sports event applicant (USSSA) that had not attended the Lodgers Tax Board meeting.
Commissioner discussion yielded a motion to encumber funding for USSSA at the maximum allowable amount (as permitted by the ordinance), with the caveat that staff continue outreach and that the commission could release or rescind the encumbrance depending on application follow-up. Byron Marshall, Hobbs Juneteenth board chairman, spoke in support of Juneteenth funding and described planned events and logistics.
The chair called the vote after motions and amendments and announced the resolution passed. Staff will finalize award letters and any encumbrances and move forward with grant agreements consistent with Lodgers Tax procedures.
Next steps: Finance staff will process award encumbrances, notify applicants, and return any items needing further commission review if application requirements are incomplete.
