CLOVIS — Two ordinances in preparation for legalized recreational cannabis were introduced Tuesday at a special meeting of the Curry County Commission.
One ordinance would restrict indoor areas where marijuana and cannabis products can be smoked in unincorporated areas of Curry County, and the other sets conditions for cannabis businesses in unincorporated county areas.
The commission also approved a final budget totaling $49.3 million in all county funds for fiscal 2022, which began July 1 and will end on June 30. The projection for fiscal 2022 is more than $11 million, or 29%, higher than the $38.2 million budget for fiscal 2021, according to a PowerPoint slides presented by County Manager Lance Pyle and Finance Director Carol Pipes.
The ordinance regulating indoor smoking of marijuana basically adds marijuana and cannabis designations to existing laws that apply to indoor consumption of tobacco products in unincorporated areas of the county, Pyle said.
The other ordinance regulates “the time, place and manner of manufacturing and consumption of marijuana products,” according to the meeting's agenda.
The clean indoor air ordinance would add marijuana and cannabis products to what is allowed to be smoked in areas that include private residences, enclosed areas of tobacco or cannabis stores, or both, in standalone buildings, designated hotel and motel rooms, and state-licensed gaming facilities, including casino or bingo parlors.
As with tobacco, cannabis smoking would be prohibited on property located less than 300 feet from a school or daycare building, any county property, and any indoor workplace, indoor public place, or public transportation not exempted.
The ordinance would be enforceable by fines ranging from $100 for a first offense to $200 for a second offense within a year, to $500 for third and consecutive offenses.
Pyle said language for the ordinance regulating manufacturing and consumption of cannabis products is still being developed, but will be available on the county's website, currycounty.org, when it is finalized.
Both of the proposed ordinances are scheduled for public hearing and final commission decisions at a special meeting on Aug. 30, Pyle said.
The state of New Mexico has set a deadline of Sept. 1, the date on which the state plans to start issuing cannabis business licenses, for local laws regulating but not prohibiting recreational cannabis use to be enacted.
Budget
The fiscal 2022 budget projects gross receipts tax revenues to be 2% higher than the actual fiscal 2021 gross receipts tax revenue, due to increased economic activity, Pyle said.
Actual numbers reported for the end of fiscal year 2021 show more than $8.2 million collected in gross receipts taxes. The additional 2% projected for fiscal 2022 would bring a total of nearly $8.4 million.
Property taxes for fiscal 2022 are expected to total more than $9.1 million, Pyle said, which is $194,997 more than collected in fiscal 2021. Pyle said new construction is expected to account for the increase.
Significantly increased spending on county road projects in fiscal 2022 is expected to cut nearly in half the about $1 million reserve balance left in the county's road fund at the end of fiscal 2021, Pyle said. The fiscal 2022 balance is expected to be $564,339.
A reduction from $625,748 at the end of fiscal 2021 to $3,501 for fiscal 2022 in the county's environmental fund will be due mostly to the county's payment of $450,000 to participate in a land trust agreement with the Central Curry County Soil and Water Conservancy that is designed to protect water supply purchased from landowners to meet county water needs, Pyle said.
Increased capital spending at the Curry County Fairgrounds will reduce the balance in the Fairground and Event Center fund from $624,748 to $489,524, Pyle said.
New items in the fiscal 2022 budget include pay raises and a new pay plan, a six-month transition period for a new financial specialist who will replace a senior accounting specialist who plans to retire, as well as the increased road funding and obligation for the land trust, Pyle said.
Pyle also said the closing of the county's juvenile detention facility this year saved the county $579,185. Juvenile detainees are now sent to Lea, Bernalillo and Dona Ana county facilities.
In a year-end report for fiscal 2021 prepared by Pipes, the county had revenues of $20.5 million, $936,157 more than the $19.6 million budgeted, and spent $16.7 million, about $2.7 million less than the $14 million budgeted.
The county had $11.6 million in reserves at the end of the year, Pipes' report stated.
Pyle said county employees "all worked together and watched expenses" to produce the cash reserves available at the end of fiscal 2021.
Other action
In other action, the commission:
• Approved an appropriation to construct a building for the Curry County Cooperative Extension Service of $1.2 million in state funds through the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).
• Approved an appropriation to demolish structures and build a parking lot on county property at West Seventh Street and Mitchell Street in Clovis. The $400,000 for the project will come from state funds through the DFA.
• Approved purchase of a brush truck for the Broadview Fire Department for $405,524, using New Mexico Fire Protection Fund money.
• Asked County Attorney Stephen Doerr to prepare a revised contract between the county and Pyle.