Routine equipment purchases are normally paid for out of budgeted departmental expenses, not debt. But years of tapping utilities fee revenues for general operations have required T or C to seek a string of similar grants and/or loans for maintenance, equipment and capital projects, many of them conditioned on utility fee increases to cover principal and interest.
Virgin Galatic stock drops amid flight test problems and delays. Scott McLaughlin named Spaceport executive director.
Spaceport America updates Read More »
Truth or Consequences is doing fairly well in meeting revenue projections despite the dislocations of the pandemic. The prognosis would be different without transferred funds from the city’s utilities revenues, which this fiscal year will make up nearly 57 percent of a $4.7 million budget shortfall in traditional revenue sources such as property and gross receipts taxes.
The Truth or Consequences City Commission attempted to rewrite its mishandling of three recent smart meter appeals hearings by approving last week an Order presenting an alternative version of events drafted by City Attorney Jaime (Jay) Rubin.
City Attorney’s “order” and “findings of fact” offer up alternative reality Read More »
The director’s candid remark about the need for a new well to be built on the northside of town to provide “redundancy” launched a Sun investigation into the adequacy and condition of T or C’s water supply. Chief reporter Kathleen Sloan has uncovered a troubling lack of city and state oversight of our existing southern well field, where biofouling and murky water, possibly caused by polluted runoff from the nearby waste transfer station, have required two wells to be taken out of operation. No one seems to know or is willing to say whether the rest of the well field is in danger of contamination.
T or C water department director mum on possibly major problems with city’s well field Read More »
The General Fund has received 55 percent of expected revenue, and the city has spent 48 percent of those funds, according to the state’s quarterly performance review. This represents underspending of about 7 percent at mid-year.
The AG’s decision not to offer clear legal guidance requested by Alicia Keyes, Spaceport America Authority’s board chair, leaves the Authority board and the other public board that oversee Spaceport expenditures struggling to redefine their fiduciary powers and responsibilities largely on their own.
The hospital’s new CEO made the decision after twice having to cancel procedures when spikes in pandemic cases forced the governor to prohibit elective surgeries statewide.
Sierra Vista Hospital ends general surgical services for now Read More »
Morris Madrid’s resignation, effective March 5, came as unexpected and unwelcome news to two T or C city commissioners. Other clues suggest he may have been pushed out by the commissioner who regularly questioned his judgment and decision making.
The New Mexico Ethics Commission last Friday, Feb. 5, notified state Representative Rebecca Dow (R-District 38) and her Democratic general election opponent Karen C. Whitlock that its general counsel will investigate allegations against Dow filed by Whitlock that fall within the commission’s jurisdiction.
A massive nuclear waste site near Carlsbad is seemingly on a fast track. Can the company behind it be trusted? Searchlight New Mexico investigates.
New Mexico’s nuclear rush Read More »
A dispute over the allocation of “excess” gross receipts taxes to Spaceport operations, which Sierra County representatives on the board favor over the strenuous objections of Doña Ana County representatives, has resulted in the board’s failure to regularly meet, let alone ensure accountability for the expenditure of taxpayer dollars.
Over the weekend the Air Force disclosed that its “preferred alternative” route would expand the “Talon” Military Operations Area that Holloman currently uses over southeastern New Mexico, east of Alamogordo. The long-awaited decision spares southern and southwestern New Mexico from the impact of 10,000-plus flyovers annually.
Holloman F-16 training flyovers will not take place over Sierra County or the Gila Read More »
Truth or Consequences city staff met the minimum public-engagement requirements to assure the city’s eligibility to apply for a Community Development Block Grant, but both the public and the city commission remained too disengaged and too ill-informed to make a strategic project choice.
An ill worker was not sent home, and there was no barrier between red and green zones, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Home administrator Juliet Sullivan remains on administrative leave.
Reprinted from the Albuquerque Journal, Edition 1/28/2021, copyright © 2021
Report: TorC vets’ home violated virus safety rules Read More »
Truth or Consequences electric utility customers may now appeal, even retrospectively, the installation of a smart meter and pay a $50 monthly charge for manual readings.
City Commission makes no findings of fact on smart-meter appeals, but provides opt out Read More »
The $87,000 investment in this equipment and a new Ford F-250 pickup truck for its transport is expected to improve response times and early containment of fires while conserving water.
County to purchase ultra-high-pressure fire suppressor, the first in New Mexico Read More »
Because of the election of several environmentalist Democrats to the New Mexico Senate, bills promoting a climate-conscious future for the state may reach the governor’s desk this year.
To recover from a decade of contraction, compounded by pandemic-related business losses, county leaders are taking the first steps to heed MRGEDA’s call to work cooperatively on a fully funded, cohesive job creation program.
City Manager Morris Madrid said of Dumiak’s public comments at this week’s commission meeting: “Just because someone says something doesn’t make it true.”