City receives $13 million from legislature

The City of Las Cruces will receive almost $13 million in state appropriations from the 2023 session of the New Mexico Legislature.

The capital outlay and general appropriations and expenditures (“junior bill”) money will pay for 31 city projects, city lobbyist Larry Horan told the Las Cruces City Council during its May 8 work session, including:

• Almost $2 million for senior citizen center improvements and construction citywide;
• $300,000 for improvements to three fire stations;
• More than $1.6 million for two projects at Las Cruces International Airport;
• $1.5 million for park renovations, including Pioneer Women’s Park, Klein Park and Veterans Memorial Park; and $100,000 for trails improvements;
• Almost $2 million for street improvements and construction;
• More than $200,000 for improvements to Branigan Cultural Center and the Museum of Nature and Science, plus $75,000 to support a children’s mobile museum;
• More than $3.25 million for Mesilla Valley Community of Hope renovations, including improvements, including construction and improvements at Casa de Peregrinos Emergency Food Program, El Caldito Soup Kitchen and Jardin de los Niños childcare program;
• More than $1 million for Mesquite Historical District renovations;
• $75,000 for body cameras for the Las Cruces Police Department;
• $400,000 to support mental health services and people struggling with homelessness;
• $75,000 to support small business.

Horan said 1,083 bills and 210 memorials and joint resolutions were introduced during the session, and he tracked 192 pieces of legislation for the city.