City 2021 budget approved

At a May 18 meeting, the council also approved an FY2021 city budget of $414.1 million, which includes the general fund, debt service, money for capital projects, enterprise funds and other funds.

Chief Budget Officer Leanne DeMouche said revenue projections were not impacted as had been anticipated by state public health orders made in response to COVID-19. Gross receipts tax (GRT) revenue, which is nearly three-quarters of the city budget, was down only 1.5 percent in March and April of this year, she said.

Enterprise funds (the city Utilities Department, Las Cruces International Airport, Transit Authority) are 31 percent of the total budget, with 25 percent going to the general fund and 20 percent to capital projects. Special revenue, which comprises six percent of the city budget, includes the Telshor Facilities Fund ($35.5 million market value in February 2020), and several taxes that generate $12.4 million annually, including EGRT (internet-generated GRT), gas tax, road maintenance GRT and flood operations.

The total FY2020 general fund resources budget is $102.9 million. At 74 percent, GRT is the largest source of general fund revenue, along with property taxes (12 percent); other revenues, including fees, licenses, overdue book charges and building permits (nine percent); franchise fees paid to use city rights-of-way (four percent); and internet sales (one percent). The general fund supports police, fire, library, senior programs, parks and recreation, codes enforcement, economic development, public works and other city services. Employee costs comprise 62 percent of general fund allocations, followed by 22 percent for operating cost and one percent for equipment.