Colfax County finance staff report $2.24M in 1/12th gross-receipts carryover; commissioners probe restrictions
April 09, 2024 | Colfax County, New Mexico
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At a budget workshop on April 9, 2024, Colfax County Financial Specialist Joana Apodaca presented the county’s special-fund carryovers and answered commissioners’ questions about allowable uses.
Apodaca listed balances for several special funds: an additional 1/12th gross-receipts tax carryover of $2,240,112.33; an Opioid Fund balance of $183,429.44; LATCF at $368,300.42; the Capital Improvement Fund at $224,790.23; and the MCMC Hospital Fund at $1,001,229.74.
Commissioner Bret Wier asked whether the 1/12th funds were earmarked and requested a copy of the county’s current capital improvement plan. Wier also said he believed the county had about $8 million in cash outside the listed special funds and asked staff to confirm the total unrestricted cash balance; Vice‑Chairman Mary Lou Kern said she agreed that the county needed precise figures on its cash position.
Wier pressed on allowable uses for the Opioid Fund; Apodaca said she had attached guidance on how those funds must be used. On the LATCF balance, Wier stated the funds cannot be used for lobbying and asked whether LATCF could serve as matching funds for grants; after reviewing the attachments, the commission concluded those funds could not be used as grant matches.
Wier also questioned a $40,000 line for ambulance service and whether all communities had requested that assistance; Apodaca said the funds were expended last year but that some communities had not requested funding this year.
The workshop record contains some illegible text regarding a debt-service item linked to “VMDC”; that portion of the transcript is unclear and the county packet should be consulted for definitive debt‑service accounting. The board adjourned at 8:53 a.m.
Next steps: commissioners requested (1) a copy of the capital improvement plan and (2) a staff report confirming unrestricted cash on hand and the allowable uses for each special fund before finalizing budget decisions.
Apodaca listed balances for several special funds: an additional 1/12th gross-receipts tax carryover of $2,240,112.33; an Opioid Fund balance of $183,429.44; LATCF at $368,300.42; the Capital Improvement Fund at $224,790.23; and the MCMC Hospital Fund at $1,001,229.74.
Commissioner Bret Wier asked whether the 1/12th funds were earmarked and requested a copy of the county’s current capital improvement plan. Wier also said he believed the county had about $8 million in cash outside the listed special funds and asked staff to confirm the total unrestricted cash balance; Vice‑Chairman Mary Lou Kern said she agreed that the county needed precise figures on its cash position.
Wier pressed on allowable uses for the Opioid Fund; Apodaca said she had attached guidance on how those funds must be used. On the LATCF balance, Wier stated the funds cannot be used for lobbying and asked whether LATCF could serve as matching funds for grants; after reviewing the attachments, the commission concluded those funds could not be used as grant matches.
Wier also questioned a $40,000 line for ambulance service and whether all communities had requested that assistance; Apodaca said the funds were expended last year but that some communities had not requested funding this year.
The workshop record contains some illegible text regarding a debt-service item linked to “VMDC”; that portion of the transcript is unclear and the county packet should be consulted for definitive debt‑service accounting. The board adjourned at 8:53 a.m.
Next steps: commissioners requested (1) a copy of the capital improvement plan and (2) a staff report confirming unrestricted cash on hand and the allowable uses for each special fund before finalizing budget decisions.
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