Water authority board passes budget

CLOVIS — Following two months of work putting it together, staff at the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority received the seal of approval from its board on a preliminary 2020-21 budget Thursday afternoon.

Authority Administrator Orlando Ortega presented the board an eight-page document, detailing dozens of revenues and expenses with columns for the 2019-20 budget and the 2020-21 budget.

The authority anticipates revenues of $20.215 million, down from the current year’s $21.053 million. Total expenses are an anticipated $1,138,025, about $70 more than the current year.

There is $19.75 million budgeted for the first phase of Finished Water 3, which would take the pipeline project from Cannon Air Force Base to Portales. It is funded by $14.75 million from the Bureau of Reclamation, nearly $3 million from state loans and grants, $1 million in capital outlay from the governor’s office and $1.132 million in authority membership funds.

The budget got a stellar recommendation from Chair David Lansford prior to the 6-0 vote to approve.

“This is very clean,” Lansford said, “very easy to understand and a good record for everybody moving forward.”

In other business at the Thursday meeting:

• Joe Thompson, a state consultant for the authority, was optimistic the authority would be able to retain a $1 million capital outlay award in the June legislative session.

Thompson said based on conversations he’s had with legislators, the Senate was likely to pass its budget quickly and go into recess while the House of Representatives might have a more difficult time finding consensus.

He anticipates the state will have to cut at least $400 million on June 18 and as much as $2 billion in the 2021 regular session. Going forward, he views the authority in a good position because of water infrastructure’s role in public health.

• The board met for the first time as a six-member board, and honored former member Robert Thornton for his service.

The board moved from seven members to six after Curry County, Melrose and Grady withdrew from the authority. Thornton was Curry County’s representative, and was one of two dissenting votes in the county’s decision to leave the authority.

Thornton, whose last official day was May 20, called the board honor unnecessary but appreciated.

“I hope I can help as we go forward,” Thornton said. “I’m sorry our board decided not to continue to (be in the authority), but it is what it is.”

• The next meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. June 25.