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Lovington gets first look at FY27 departmental budget; city manager and department heads flag wage, vehicle and capital asks
Summary
City Manager David Moran presented a departmental preview of the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, as department heads described personnel raises, vehicle and equipment requests and multiple grant‑funded capital projects that will require city matches. Commissioners discussed fee changes, grant timing and how to prioritize capital spending.
City Manager David Moran opened a departmental review of the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget on behalf of the Lovington City Commission, saying, “What we have before you today is an attempt to give you the first look at the fiscal 27 year budget.” Moran told commissioners the meeting would cover line‑item requests from each department, followed by deeper line‑by‑line review where the commission wanted more detail.
The presentation laid out a series of recurring themes: requests for across‑the‑board cost‑of‑living adjustments, equipment and vehicle replacements, and a batch of capital projects that staff hope to fund largely with external grants. Moran noted the 301 capital projects fund and multiple state grants will be central to the year’s planning but cautioned that some awards and allocation letters remain pending.
Motor vehicle department head Maria Hernandez, introduced by Moran, told the commission her office of four full‑time employees is fully staffed but needs a new roof and security upgrades; she asked for a $2 hourly pay increase across her staff to better align with comparable municipal positions. “Our least paid employee right now is at $14 an hour,” Hernandez said, urging the commission to consider retention‑driven pay changes for small, high‑contact departments.
Across public works and parks, officials presented a mix of small capital asks and larger equipment requests. Public Works Director Robert Perez described park repairs, two mowers that can be covered by the capital projects fund, and a request to trial a pickleball court (estimated at about $30,000). Perez also detailed a larger equipment list — including a replacement tractor and several trucks — and asked the commission to weigh enterprise or capital funding options.
Several department heads flagged higher insurance and certification costs in their personnel budgets; Moran and finance staff recommended focusing on a limited number of critical hires or equipment purchases now and aligning other requests with projected grant revenue to avoid depleting reserves. Commissioners repeatedly raised the idea of a modest municipal transaction fee increase to offset personnel costs in customer‑facing offices; finance staff said a fee change would require a resolution and implementation steps.
Why it matters: Commissioners must balance urgent maintenance and public‑safety equipment needs against the city’s obligation to keep reserves and meet DFA budget requirements. Multiple projects depend on grant awards whose timing and exact totals remain uncertain. The commission directed staff to prepare a consolidated worksheet showing projected beginning cash, anticipated revenues and likely required matches before the next budget workshop so members can prioritize capital and operating requests.
What’s next: Staff will prepare an interim budget package and a single consolidated worksheet showing grant matches and the projected cash position; commissioners asked for a follow‑up workshop in mid‑May to identify priorities and potential fee changes. Direct agency actions and formal vote items were not taken at the session; the meeting served as an informational, departmental briefing.
