City Council Work Session Recap

Las Cruces City Council reviewed and conducted a public hearing on the City's proposed $589.5 million budget for Fiscal Year 2025 during a work session Monday, April 22, 2024, in Council Chambers at City Hall, 700 N. Main St.

City staff reviewed the progress of the budget's development, from an annual two-day budget retreat conducted in mid-February, through ensuing City Council meetings and work sessions. The theme of the City's Fiscal Year 2025 budget is "Adelante Con Cariño," which in English means Moving Forward with Care.

The proposed City budget for Fiscal Year 2025 is available online by clicking here. The proposed budget is current as of April 8, 2024, but is subject to change with further revisions before it is presented to City Council for its consideration and adoption on Monday, May 20, 2024.

The proposed City budget strives to be conservative, fiscally responsible, to meet the needs of the community, and to address strategic plan initiatives for Las Cruces.

Monday's work session included discussions of the proposed budget and its assumptions, department requests, and the City's Capital Improvement Program. As of April 22, 2024, more than $133.4 million in capital improvement projects is proposed in the City budget, including a projected $43.9 million for city street improvements, $16.4 million for public transit, and $14.26 million for public facilities.

Among public comments to the Council regarding the proposed budget were support of more funding for the Las Cruces Public Libraries.

Also at Monday's work session, City Council received a presentation and discussed Community Livability. City Council provided City staff with guidance on proposed expenditures from the Telshor Fund and Cannabis Excise Tax that will be included in the Fiscal Year 2025 City budget. The discussions on Community Livability focused on the possibilities of utilizing more of the Telshor Funds and Cannabis Excise Tax revenues to make Las Cruces a safer and more enjoyable place for residents.

Among the new proposals discussed by City Council were possible improvements to the City's "Legacy Parks," including Pioneer Women's Park, Apodaca Park, and Young Park. Also discussed was funding for a Real Time Crime Center, gap funding for a new Fire Station 9, and funding for the first and second phases of the Peachtree Canyon Apartments.

Additionally, the Council was presented with and discussed proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budgets for the agencies the City has Joint Power Agreements (JPA) with. The JPA presentations included the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley, Metro Narcotics, Metropolitan Planning Organization, South Central Solid Waste Authority, and the Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority.

City departments were asked to budget at a 3% decrease, but the same request had not been made of the JPAs. Mayor Eric Enriquez said he would like the JPAs to plan for the same decrease.

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