$1.62M in capital outlay allocated to county

Entities in Quay County received a total of $1.62 million in capital outlay allocations from the New Mexico Legislature at the conclusion of its 30-day session last week.

That was nearly double the amount of last year’s $850,000. The legislature, its coffers swelling due to robust oil and gas revenue, passed a record budget of nearly $8.5 billion.

The county’s allocations are subject to a possible line-item veto by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham until early March.

These are the projects in Quay County that are slated to receive capital outlay money:

• Arch Hurley Conservancy District backhoe, $35,000;

• Village of Logan sewer system repair and replacement, $360,000;

• Mesalands Community College renovations, $78,950;

• Rex E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center equipment, $100,000;

• Quay Road AP improvements, $550,000;

• Tucumcari Lake sewer line replacement, $500,000.

The Logan Senior Center also is slated to receive $62,262 in general-obligation bonds from the legislature for renovations.

The state’s budget was 14% larger than the current fiscal year. That money also went for raises to teachers, state workers, judges and New Mexico State Police officers.

Money also will go to the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship fund to cover tuition and fees for students who attend colleges and universities in the state.

The legislature also approved a two-year, 0.025% cut in the gross-receipts tax rate and tax rebates of up to $500 for residents.