Lawmakers expect big bucks for infrastructure

New Mexico can look forward to this legislative session providing more funding for local infrastructure. That was the word from area lawmakers who spoke at Tuesday’s Clovis-Curry County Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast.

“We all know how cumbersome the compliance, the paperwork is to go after these big … grants. But those are the grants that are going to help us push the needle to redo our roads and infrastructure and provide us with well needed things for our rural communities,” said Shanna Sasser, Department of Finance and Administration ombudsman.

Sasser said one of the biggest things lawmakers will be working on is creating avenues to secure funding for electricity, water and natural gas in rural areas.

The Legislature convenes for a 30-day session on Jan. 16. Pre-filing for bills begins Jan. 2 and goes through Jan. 12.

Rep. Martin Zamora, R-Clovis, Rep. Jack Chatfield, R-Mosquero, Rep. Andrea Reeb, R-Clovis, Sen. Pat Woods, R-Broadview, and Sasser attended the breakfast at the Chamber.

While 30-day sessions are generally focused on budgeting, Zamora and Reeb said they expect a number of bills will be introduced on gun laws. Age limits, waiting periods and guns in polling places are among issues they expect to be addressed.

Chatfield said the consensus revenue projection for this year is $3.6 billion; he said that is 49% more than what the state received when he went into office in 2019. Chatfield said he would like tax dollars be earmarked for roads.

“The roads will be here long after the money’s gone. … Last year we put $1.26 billion into roads, I think we will put at least that this year and hopefully a little more,” Chatfield said.

He said there is a possibility legislators will put another $100 million into a water trust fund as well.

Another topic Chatfield and Woods hope to tackle this session is the issue of hospitals and private medical practices not being able to afford insurance.

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

• Purdue drainage improvements for $2 million.

• Animal shelter renovation for $1 million.

• Park and recreation improvements for $300,000.

• Llano Design (Norris to Humphrey) for $400,000.

• Hillcrest senior life center and aquatic center roadway entry improvements for $300,000.

• Paving design 21st (Norris to Prince) for $100,000.

• Residential street lighting for $200,000.

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

• Road projects for county roads 15, 17, AM, 26 and state roads 348 and 108.

• Courthouse security fencing and demolition of the old juvenile detention center.

• Curry County recreation/sports complex.

• Events center digital sign

• County fairgrounds iron fencing.

• County mounted patrol arena improvements.

Morris expressed concern on how the city and the county can get approved for their capital outlay projects more efficiently. Woods said the best way to get the Legislature to approve is to come in with a step by step budgeting plan, rather than requesting the entire estimated value.

Pyle asked lawmakers to consider return-to-work changes for public employee retirees.

He said he would like to see at least modification for law enforcement and detention positions in which workers can return to the job without losing pension benefits.