Mike Smith
El Rito Media
msmith@currentargus.com

Eddy County’s Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution Nov. 5 endorsing the legislative priorities being advanced by New Mexico Counties (NMC), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advocates for the state’s 33 county governments.

Among the organization’s activities is lobbying the New Mexico Legislature on behalf of the counties. The 2025 legislative session begins Jan. 21.

In a memorandum to commissioners, Interim Eddy County Manager Steve McCutcheon Sr. wrote that the NMC’s board of directors issued its priority list as part of its effort to promote communication among the member counties.

Topping the list is a request for general appropriation funds to support multiple county functions, including money for county jail recruitment and retention and financing for building and renovating state district courthouses.

Eddy County Sheriff Mark Cage, immediate past president of the NMC board, said state assistance for recruitment and retention would help county jails maintain adequate staffing levels.

Also on the list: More money for the Detention and Corrections Workforce Capacity Building Fund established by the legislature in 2023.

During their 2024 session, lawmakers set aside $25 million for the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration to help boost public safety. The department received requests for more than 850 positions and funded 189 new officers across 22 counties and the New Mexico Corrections Department.

State Rep. Jim Townsend (R-54) said some of the items listed by the NMC need to be discussed individually, especially funding for courthouses as some amounts are undefined.

“Counties need to be responsible for their own actions, including how they hire,” he said. “We have 33 counties (asking for) huge amounts of money if you open it up to everyone at one time.”

The NMC’s priority outline says “courthouses are a state responsibility” and that a shared revenue stream is needed to deal with rising costs of construction, security and information technology.

“State district courts no longer reflect a single judge residing at a county facility the way the territorial statute first intended,” the NMC said. “Courthouse complexes can reach well over $50 million in construction costs, and the addition of a single judge can cost a county $2-3 million for renovation and increased operational support.”

“We love our (district) judges and district attorneys but the state needs to step up and pay their fair share,” Cage said.

State Sen. David Gallegos (R-41) said lawmakers have a different outlook on courthouse funding versus 2012 when former Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed almost $1.4 million in state bonds approved by the Legislature for furnishing the Judge Steve Herrera Judicial Complex in Santa Fe. The complex opened in 2013.

Gallegos said the state should share the cost as counties help maintain courthouses for state use.

Eddy County Public Works Director Jason Burns said the county plans to submit a request to the state for help in renovating the outside of the county courthouse in downtown Carlsbad.

Along with approving the NMC resolution at their Nov. 5 meeting, county commissioners approved a $15 million refurbishment of the courthouse. Burns said most of the funds for the courthouse renovation will be provided by Eddy County.

He said Eddy County does not plan to ask the state for money to help pay for construction of a new jail south of Carlsbad.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-308-8734 or email at msmith@currentargus.com