Curry commissioners approve $60 million budget

Curry County commissioners on Tuesday approved a $60 million budget for fiscal year 2024-2025.

The figure represents about a $5.5 million reduction from fiscal year 2023-2024’s budget of $65.538 million.

In presenting the budget to commissioners, County Manager Lance Pyle said the county’s projected revenue for the upcoming fiscal year is $26.192 million.

“The rest of the approximately $33.9 million in revenue comes from federal and state monies such as grants, fire funds, road funds, special programs and such,” Pyle said after the meeting.

Among points in his budget presentation, Pyle had some projects he listed in a section called “Looking Forward,” which included:

• Completion of the indoor pavilion at the county fairgrounds.

• Improvements to the Mounted Patrol Arena.

• Secured parking at the detention center to abate vandalism to detention center employees’ vehicles.

• Covered parking for county vehicles to protect against hail damage.

Commissioners spent some time at Tuesday’s regular session talking about the next phase of work on the indoor pavilion at the county fairgrounds.

Representatives from the architectural firm Formative Architects reported the next phase of work at the pavilion is ready to be let out to bid.

During discussion with commissioners it was learned the estimated cost for the work has ballooned from $2.3 million to about $4 million.

“I can’t see how this $4 million cost benefits our community,” Commissioner Dusty Leatherwood said.

Pyle told commissioners he has “struggled with this $2.3 million now $4 million cost.”

“But the longer we wait, it’s going to cost more,” Pyle said.

Commissioners discussed which was more important, the indoor pavilion or improved parking at the fairgrounds.

Pyle went on to list the estimated cost of the desired projects at the fairgrounds -- $4 million for the indoor pavilion, about $4 million for parking lot improvements and an estimated $6.2 million to $6.5 million for improvements to the Mounted Patrol Arena.

Commission Chair Robert Thornton expressed dismay at the rising costs for the proposed projects.

Wrapping up the discussion, commissioners voted to put the indoor pavilion work out to bid and see what the cost estimates are.

Also:

County Road Superintendent Walon Jones gave his June-July report to commissioners.

Among his items, Jones reported there are three position openings in the County Road Department, the department patched 54 miles of county roads, a new LED sign has been installed and is operational at the department office on North Prince Street.

Jones also reported some road department employees attended the New Mexico Association of Counties Equipment Rodeo in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Curry County equipment operator Tarron Whitehead of Melrose placed third in the backhoe competition.

In other business, commissioners:

• Voted to write to the New Mexico Department of Transportation to look into lowering the speed limit on County Road 6 from U.S. 60 to State Road 467.

• Heard a presentation from Operation Phoenix Outdoors founder Chris Egbert on what his organization does for military, first responders and others to “share the healing power of the outdoors” with fishing trips, hunting trips and other activities.

Commissioners Brad Bender and Fidel Madrid expressed appreciation for what Egbert does.

• Heard from County Fairgrounds – Events Center General Manager K. C. Messick as to whether the county’s newly adopted “clear bag policy” should be implemented at the upcoming county fair.

Leatherwood said, “We’re a little late to the party in implementing this at this year’s fair.”

“We’d be better off waiting,” Thornton said.

Messick said after the discussion the policy will be implemented later this year, after the fair.

n Approved the purchase of five new computers for the control room at the Curry County Adult Detention Center at a cost of not more than $30,000.

n Held an executive session after which commissioners voted to proceed with looking into buying a piece of property for use as a detention center parking area or training area.