COMMUNITY

County approves legislative priorities, capital outlay projects

Jacqueline Devine
Alamogordo Daily News
Otero County Assessor Steve Boyle reviewed the 2017 New Mexico Association of Counties legislative priorities at the Oct. 19 regular commission meeting.

ALAMOGORDO – County Commissioners approved Resolution No. 10-13-16/105-23 in a vote 2-1 that supports the 2017 New Mexico Association of Counties (NMAC) legislative priorities at their regular commission meeting Wednesday, Oct. 19.

Earlier in August, the Board of Directors of the New Mexico Association of Counties approved four legislative priorities for consideration by the New Mexico Legislature at its 2016 regular legislative session.

The association has requested that county commissioners in each of the state’s 33 counties adopt a resolution supporting the association’s legislative priorities.

The top four priorities are:

  • Whistleblower Protection Act
  • New Mexico 911 Act Revision
  • Forfeiture Act
  • Capital Outlay for Non-Governmental Entities

County Assessor Steve Boyle was on hand to discuss each of the four legislative priorities at the latest commission meeting.

Boyle explained the NMAC legislative priority process to commissioners before reviewing the four priorities.

“In May, affiliates present legislative and position resolutions,” Boyle said. “In June, the affiliates submit legislative and position resolutions during their conference. The non-elected affiliates submit legislative and position resolutions through the Managers Affiliate for endorsement.”

County Commissioners Ronny Rardin and Susan Flores discuss the New Mexico Association of Counties legislative priorities at their latest commission meeting Wednesday, Oct. 19. Commissioners approved the resolution supporting the priorities.

According to the 2017 NMAC Legislative Priorities and Position Statements, in July, the legislative committee meeting reviews affiliate legislative and position resolutions to determine that there is countywide impact and statewide significance and make recommendations to the board at the August meeting.

During the August board meeting they endorse legislative resolutions to be considered as priorities which is voted on by the board which selects a limited number of resolutions as NMAS legislative priorities.

At the October board meeting, board members report on local county commissioner’s action on NMAC legislative priorities.

The Whistleblower Protection Act supports amendments to better define the definition of “good faith” by requiring some minimal threshold of evidence to file a claim, narrow the definition of “retaliatory action,” limit “unlawful or improper acts” to violations of state or federal law, and narrow the universe of individuals to whom a complaint may be communicated as a precondition to filing a claim.

Boyle said the New Mexico 911 Act Revision supports the amendment to the 911 surcharge statute to ensure all technologies utilizing 911 services are contributing equally to the New Mexico 911 fund.

The Forfeiture Act supports amendments to the Forfeiture Act that remove unreasonable burdens placed on law enforcement agencies, allow law enforcement agencies to retain forfeited property under limited circumstances, clarify appropriate use of forfeiture, and ensure that due process rights of parties involved are honored.

The Capital Outlay for Non-Governmental Entities supports recommendations that allow local county commissioners to accept, approve and review non-governmental entities’ capital outlay funds and their fiscal impacts to county’s finances prior to submission to the state legislature.

Commissioners also approved three capital outlay projects to the New Mexico Legislature for funding consideration. All three projects were listed on the county’s Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan for fiscal years 2018-2022.

The three projects selected were a new Timberon Fire Station which is an estimated $700,000, an Emergency Operations Center which totals $435,000 and Florida Avenue improvements that total $488,000.  A total of $310,000 has already been put into the Emergency Operations Center, commissioners only need an estimated $125,000 to complete the project.

Boyle said most of the counties in New Mexico have already approved their resolutions, there are only about six or seven out of 33 that have not yet passed resolutions.

To view the 2017 NMAC Legislative Priorities and Position Statements visit the county’s website at http://co.otero.nm.us and click “County Commission” and then “Commission Meeting Agendas.”