The good news is that the larger state’s capital outlay requests for Carlsbad and the surrounding area were largely approved.
This includes $750,000 for renovation to the Riverwalk Recreation Center and $25,000 for the playground at Jefferson Montessori Academy, requested by Senator Ron Griggs. It also includes $350,000 for improvements to the Double Eagle water system and $500,000 for loop road funding, requested by Senator Gay Kernan. Senator David Gallegos requested $250,000 for Double Eagle improvements and additional funding for the loop road and JMA Academy signage.
Representative Cathrynn Brown’s capital outlay request included $500,000 for the Double Eagle project, $500,000 for the loop road and about $120,000 for JMA improvements. She also asked for $90,000 for Eddy County Information System Improvements.
Finally, Rep. Jim Townsend’s capital outlay request included $140,000 for Eddy County Information Technology. Thank you to all of our legislators for their hard work providing funding for Carlsbad and Eddy County. These legislators have also provided capital outlay over the past few years to assist with funding to remediate the South Y brine well.
This year, there was also capital outlay funding requested in what’s called the Junior Bill, Senate Bill 48. Locally, this included requests for funding for senior center improvements and new police vehicles. This bill, which would have appropriated $50.4 million across the state, was vetoed by the Governor, who said she felt the bill circumvented the capital outlay process.
As reported in multiple media outlets, lawmakers are now considering calling themselves back to the Roundhouse to override the governor’s veto. Such an extraordinary session would need support from three-fifths of the legislature. Were such a session to take place, legislators are also reportedly considering suspending the state’s gas tax to provide some relief due to high prices.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham also issued her own capital outlay funding. The Governor’s own capital outlay list included $160 million in allocations toward 101 projects. There were no Eddy County allocations on the Governor’s list and no Lea County allocations either. Roswell’s air center received about $2.9 million and a park in Chaves County received another $250,000. Ruidoso received $3.5 million for construction of a consolidated dispatch center.
The three highest dollar items on the Governor’s list were a water system in Curry County ($20 million), construction of a long-term care center in Colfax County ($15 million) and pipeline construction in Taos County ($14.5 million). The City of Carlsbad had asked the Governor to consider funding for construction of a bridge in the Dark Canyon area. Adding flood prevention safety measures remains one of our top priorities, and we will continue to seek funding opportunities.
Sincerely, Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway