County commission advances GO bond proposal for quality of life improvements

Doña Ana County commissioners passed a resolution that would place up to $140 million in general obligation bonds on this November’s ballot for county residents.

The proposal to send the GO bonds to voters passed on a unanimous, 5-0 vote during Tuesday’s committee hearing on June 10. The funds would go towards all aspects of enhancement of the county fairgrounds, county recreation facilities and county buildings, from planning through construction.

County commissioners said this would be the first GO bond for quality-of-life initiatives in Doña Ana County history. The commissioners said the projects from the bonds are intended to align with the county’s strategic plan, and that in doing so it will not only improve the quality of life for residents but attract visitors and potential residents and businesses.

The commissioners touted the proposal’s potential to include quality of life for county residents and said that those in the county deserved to have better amenities.

“We’re not just Joe Schmo on the corner,” Commission Chair Christopher Schaljo-Hernandez, District 1, said. “We’re the second-biggest county in New Mexico. We are next to the largest drivable city in (the region) which is El Paso.”

“We are a huge tri-state region and our communities deserve these amenities and these quality of life things,” Schaljo-Hernandez said. 

District 3 Commissioner Shannon Reynolds said the cost was relatively small. 

In presenting the financial aspects, George Williford of Hilltop Securities told commissioners that the increase in property taxes for homeowners with a property valued at $285,000, the average assessed value of a house in the county, would be a little less than $173 per year, which comes out to less than $14.50 per month. 

“I have to put it in a perspective of things that I do, and I’m looking at about a dozen and a half eggs a month, about $12.40 for a couple of dozen eggs or one meal at McDonald’s,” Reynolds said. 

The overall sentiment was that this would improve the quality of life.

District 5 Commissioner Michael Sanchez said that the county had to “piecemeal so many projects through capital outlay,” from funds from local legislators. He said the money from the American Rescue Plan Act after the COVID-19 pandemic showed what the county could do with more funds.

“When we have the ability to have funds, we can truly invest in this county, in our people,” he said.

Sanchez reiterated that the projects would be an investment, and noted he was particularly excited about an amphitheater to host events including concerts.

Sanchez said Las Cruces used to host “amazing shows” and listed such musical acts as Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Paul McCartney, Eagles and Kiss.

“This used to be a place to come,” he said. Now we have to go to—if we’re lucky—we’ll go to El Paso.”

Other such events require a drive to Albuquerque, Phoenix, Tucson, or even Denver, Sanchez said.

District 4 Commissioner Susana Chaparro quipped, “You forgot Prince and Tina Turner.”

The commissioners also noted that the projects aren’t finalized and that this isn’t the end of the process.

Chaparro said the commission would continue to hear from the communities in each district.

“We will be getting your input, what every district needs, what every community needs,” she said.  

She noted that the needs are different from “district to district, from community to community, from pueblito to pueblito.” Some would like a community center or recreational center, while others would seek funding for improving lighting on streets, she said.

“I want to assure you that it’s not going to be what we want, but what you want, and we will support what the communities need,” Chaparro said.

District 2 County Commissioner Gloria Gameros said that she will have meetings with communities throughout her district to hear what projects are important to them.

County Manager Scott Andrews said that the resolution was just another step in the process that began months ago. County officials have been looking for months into where they should put money from the bonds to better improve the lives of residents.

The exact wording of the GO bonds is not finalized, and can be changed between now and the final days of August, ahead of when ballots must be finalized.

“It is required to go to the voters,” Chris Muirhead of Modrall Sperling Law Firm told commissioners. “So that is different from a revenue bond and some other potential bonds that you might do.”

Voters will decide on Nov. 5 whether to approve the GO bonds.