Lawmakers: State 'swimming in money'

New Mexico is "swimming in money," so it's a good year to ask for funding from the state. That was the word from area lawmakers who spoke at Tuesday's Clovis-Curry County Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast.

"This is a good time to go on with projects," Rep. Martin Zamora, R-Santa Rosa, told the crowd. He said the state will have about $2 billion more to work with than a year ago when the Legislature convenes for a 60-day session on Jan. 17.

"This year the state is swimming in money," said Sen. Stuart Ingle, R-Portales.

Ingle said when he first went to Santa Fe in 1985 the state budget was about $900 million. It's about $7 billion this year.

Ingle spoke of the need to take some of the money and put it into state retirement programs that he described as "underfunded."

Zamora, Ingle, retiring Rep. Randal Crowder, R-Clovis, and incoming Rep. Andrea Reeb, R-Clovis, attended the breakfast at the Clovis Civic Center in which area officials shared their requests for state funding.

Crowder used much of his speaking time to praise incoming legislator Reeb.

"You're stepping up with who you're getting," Crowder said of Reeb. "She's going to be great."

Crowder talked about upcoming major road projects coming to the area including improvements through Clovis for U.S. 60-84 going out for bid Dec. 16 and improvement to U.S. 60-84 from Clovis to Fort Sumner which will be what is called a "Super Two" highway. Crowder said that "is actually three lanes, two lanes with a passing lane."

Reeb said she is looking forward to working on schools and crime safety.

Clovis Mayor Mike Morris outlined the city's legislative funding requests:

$800,000 for HVAC and roof repairs for the Roy Walker Community Center, $2 million for drainage improvements to Purdue Street between Cameo and Echols streets, $300,000 for city park improvements, $200,000 for residential street lighting in neighborhoods that lack it and $500,000 for design improvements for Llano Estacado Blvd. from Norris Street to Humphrey Road.

Curry County Manager Lance Pyle listed the county's priorities:

Planning, design and construction of a livestock pavilion at the fairgrounds; road improvements on county roads 16, 14, AM, 21, 23 and in the Shumate subdivision; design and planning for a county sports complex; upgrades to county communications systems and purchasing and constructing courthouse security fencing.

Pyle said the county administration would like to have a joint county/state project to build a magistrate court addition to the county courthouse.

Both Pyle and Morris expressed interest in the planning, designing and building of a regional behavioral health facility in the city or county.

Pyle said he would also like to see the state regulate the marketing and branding of cannabis products to children. The county will be considering an ordinance on that matter at next month's commission meeting.