Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Quay County Commission on Monday approved a preliminary budget for fiscal year 2023 that lists $10.7 million in revenue and $16.7 million in expenditures.
County finance director Cheryl Simpson explained the high number for expenditures is for projects — including a multimillion-dollar low-water bridge on old Route 66 between Endee and San Jon — that received funding the previous fiscal year but won’t be finished until the next fiscal year.
Simpson said the payroll is anticipated to be $4.2 million for 82 positions, which includes elected officials.
The county was required to submit a preliminary budget to the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration by June 1.
Commissioners voted to approve the budget with little discussion.
Among the budgeted expenditures in FY23 is $10,000 to the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce, $50,000 to Greater Tucumcari Economic Development Corp., $10,000 to Tucumcari MainStreet, $2,500 to Tucumcari Railroad Museum, $3,000 to Tucumcari Rawhide Days and $3,240 to the Tucumcari Historical Museum.
The previous year’s budget was $15.08 million. Last year, the county received about $1.6 million in federal coronavirus relief funds.
In other business:
• Commissioners approved three resolutions from road superintendent Larry Moore declaring three projects’ eligibility and the county’s intent to submit an application for the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Local Government Transportation Fund.
Resolutions were for $2.716 million for repairing Quay Road 63, $2.662 million for repairing two miles of Quay Road AR and $767,695.63 to address a budgetary shortfall to build a low-water bridge on old Route 66 between Endee and San Jon.
• Commissioners voted to let Community Development Block Grant coordinator Darla Munsell proceed in filling out a CDBG application to repair 1.15 miles of Quay Road 62.9 west of Tucumcari.
Munsell said she would request $750,000 for the project, which would require a $37,500 match from the county. Munsell said the road would need to be surveyed and she would ensure residents in that area meet the program’s low-income requirements before she submits the application in August.
• Commissioners approved a resolution written by county treasurer Patsy Gresham detailing the county’s credit and debit card processing policy and procedures.
Gresham said the county has been taking credit and debit card payments since 2019, but the state’s Department of Finance and Administration, wary of “appropriate” fees for such payments, requested a written policy from counties.
• Gresham said a liquidation auction of 42 tax-delinquent properties, including several commercial tracts, in Quay County would commence June 14. The county hadn’t held such an auction in three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Commissioners approved county emergency manager Paul Lucero’s annual application for an $28,016 Emergency Management Performance Grant. It covers half of Lucero’s annual salary and benefits.
• Commissioners approved Lucero’s emergency actions and evacuation plan for the county courthouse.
• Lucero told commissioners he manned a mobile operations center for a few days in Las Vegas during ongoing wildfires in that area. He said among his duties were setting up an animal shelter and a donations warehouse.
• County manager Daniel Zamora reported robust increases in gross-receipts tax revenue, particularly in construction, retail, food service and accommodations. Zamora said it doesn’t account for recreational cannabis sales, which will be reported next month.
Zamora attributed the rise to traveling snowbirds and spring breakers. Commissioner Jerri Rush asked whether part of the rise also could be because of higher inflation, which Zamora said was possible.
• Commissioners approved $5,007.31 in indigent hospital claims in May.
• County Clerk Ellen White said turnout for early voting in the June 7 primary election was light, with 156 casting ballots so far. Early voting continues through June 4.
• Joe Szaloy, addressing the commission during a third consecutive meeting about speeders on East Maple Avenue in north Tucumcari, offered to buy two rubberized speed bumps if county workers would install them.