Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Tucumcari city commissioners during a special meeting Sept. 5 approved fourth-quarter budget adjustments and fourth-quarter financial reports for fiscal year 2023 that were a few days late on a state deadline.
Commissioners had delayed action on the resolutions during previous meetings because of lingering questions, and they still voiced some reservations last week.
City manager Paula Chacon said the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration originally wanted the reports by July 31 but issued an extension to Aug. 31.
Chacon said the state agency had expressed concerns about the reports’ tardiness and offered to help the city, if needed.
Commissioner Mike Cherry, who has been adamant about having questions answered about financial reports before approving them, expressed irritation with state overseers.
“Do they realize we’re doing our due diligence? We aren’t going to sign off on it without considering the community,” he said.
Referring to DFA, Cherry added: “I think they’re part of the problem, their lack of oversight.”
Cherry said the 94-page budget-adjustment report was too large, saying it should reflect only changes to cash balances.
Mayor Ralph Moya acknowledged the problems but said the city’s financial reports have improved in recent years.
“I don’t understand all of it, but it’s starting to make more sense,” he said. “There’s still a lot to be improved on.”
Cherry disagreed. “I don’t understand any of it.”
Chacon admitted the reports’ shortcomings, especially tracking sources of revenue.
“This doesn’t give you a true picture,” she said.
Regardless, she recommended approving both documents so they could be submitted to the state. Commissioners then unanimously approved the resolutions. Commissioner Christopher Arias was absent.
Chacon also said she was seeking a certified public accountant to run the city’s finance department after the recent resignation of city finance director Rachelle Arias.
In other business:
— The commission approved a resolution and agreement regarding $319,000 in capital outlay funds for street improvements.
Those actions also were delayed during the commission’s previous meeting because documents weren’t ready at the time.
Chacon said she hadn’t committed the funds to certain street projects.
Moya, however, said the money should be used to at least partially repair Third and Fourth streets near Main Street.
— Cherry asked the appointment of Barton “CJ” Oglesby as District 3 commissioner be placed on the commission’s Sept. 14 meeting agenda.
Oglesby was the only candidate to file for the open seat during filing day Aug. 29 for the November election.
“I think it’s fair to appoint him because he’s the only one running for that spot,” Cherry said.
District 3, which encompasses much of the city’s southwest side, has been without a commissioner since Ruth Ann Litchfield resigned in December for health reasons.