Here are the projects funded by New Mexico lawmakers in your community via capital outlay

Adrian Hedden, Carlsbad Current-Argus
·3 min read

A cash windfall into New Mexico’s State coffers this year meant lawmakers and other state officials were looking to spend big during the ongoing legislative session concluding Saturday, including more than $1 billion for local infrastructure projects throughout the state.

Those funds for the state’s 33 counties and its municipalities came via capital outlay dollars proposed in House Bill 505, totaling about $1.2 billion statewide.

New Mexico’s most populous county, Bernalillo County, led the state in funding proposed in the bill at about $208.6 million, while HB 505 funded $365.4 billion in statewide projects.

More:Bill to block nuclear waste in southeast New Mexico heads to House Floor for final vote

San Miguel County had the second-most funds from the bill at about $90.6 million, as it recovers from damage to its water infrastructure from the historically devastating Calf Canyon Hermits Peak Fire that burned more than 300,000 acres in spring 2022.

Other urban centers Dona Ana and Santa Fe counties also topped the list with $76.1 million and $73.4 million, respectively.

But millions of dollars were also sent to fund projects in the rural southeast region, providing repairs to local buildings and infrastructure proposed by lawmakers from the region.

More:Here's what to know about New Mexico's wildfire bills considered by lawmakers this year

HB 505 passed the House 41-26 on March 11, moved through the Senate Finance Committee and was awaiting a vote before the full Senate before it could be signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

With the session winding down, here are the biggest capital outlay projects proposed in HB 505 for the southeast region.

Eddy County – $12.4 million

Carlsbad

  • Wet well construction: $1 million

  • National Parks Highway sewer system: $910,000

  • HVAC replacement at Southeast New Mexico College: $800,000

  • Riverwalk Recreation Center improvements: $750,000

  • Southeast Loop Road connecting County Road 605, U.S. Highway 285 and State Road 31: $628,000

More:Will New Mexico lawmakers fully fund oil and gas oversight in State's budget bill?

Artesia

  • Artesia General Hospital MRI upgrades: $955,000

  • Artesia Recreation Center construction: $810,000

  • Bulldog Boal running track renovations: $800,000

Hope

  • Hope City Hall improvements: $300,000

  • Hope maintenance building: $400,000

Loving

  • 6th Street improvements: $700,000

  • Loving Youth Recreation Center: $175,000

More:Possible state money for southeast NM road projects remains in neutral in Legislature

Otero County – $14.3 million

Alamogordo

  • New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired garage and fencing replacement: $1.3 million

  • Desert Lakes Golf Course irrigation system: $900,000

  • Alameda Park Zoo fencing construction: $775,000

Mescalero Apache Tribe

  • Windy Point housing expansion: $2.8 million

  • Veterans Park construction: $875,000

Tularosa

  • Water system improvements (2 projects): $2.5 million

Cloudcroft

  • Flood control improvements: $600,000

  • Heavy equipment purchases: $330,000

More:Revised bill banning single-use plastic bags in New Mexico stalled in Legislature

Lincoln County – $8.5 million

Ruidoso

  • Flood damage infrastructure improvements: $1.8 million

  • Outdoor recreation improvements: $500,000

Ruidoso Downs

  • Ruidoso Downs City Hall construction: $670,000

Carrizozo

  • Lincoln County Courthouse improvements: $800,000

Hondo Valley

  • Public School District water tank construction: $760,000

Lea County – $12.7 million

Hobbs

  • Sewer line repairs: $2 million

  • Public safety vehicles: $1.5 million

  • Police department, court HVAC: $1 million

Jal

  • Emergency Medical Services facility: $1.1 million

Lovington

  • Courthouse renovations: $800,000

  • Utility equipment: $640,000

Eunice

  • Rodeo arena: $990,000

Tatum

  • Sewer lift station replacement: $500,000

Chaves County – $23.7 million

Roswell

  • General Services Department facility: $5.5 million

  • New Mexico Military Institute barracks: $5 million

  • Roswell Air Terminal expansion: $ 2 million

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Here are the projects funded by New Mexico lawmakers in your community