Dona Ana County adopts FY27 final budget after late amendments including $20,000 BIA membership

Dona Ana County commissioners voted to adopt the county’s FY27 final budget on July 28 after staff presented updates to revenue and expenditure assumptions and several commissioners proposed late amendments.

Finance staff reported improved FY26 results and said FY27 final revenues rose about $16.34 million from the preliminary budget primarily because of bond proceeds and adjusted grant budgets. The county’s adjusted expenditure plan was described as $413 million in total appropriations with capital projects and pilot payments included; staff said unrestricted adjusted ending cash is projected to remain positive under the adopted plan.

Commissioners debated and ultimately approved several in-session amendments: adding a $20,000 membership to the Border Industrial Association (to be funded from surplus) and authorizing membership allocations for the Hispano and Green chambers (amounts to be finalized in budget documents). The board recorded the final budget adoption as Resolution 2026-95.

Commissioners also discussed departmental staffing changes the budget supports, including funding flexibility for hard-to-fill positions in the county attorney’s office and mechanisms for incentive pay where necessary. Finance staff said many budget adjustments reflect mandatory increases (health insurance and union step increases) and multiyear capital projects rolled forward from FY26.

The board directed staff to return with further reporting and to provide the monthly reports requested by commissioners; staff reiterated that the budget will be submitted to the Department of Finance and Administration by the statutory deadline.

Outcome: Final budget adopted with amendments; implementation will include quarterly financial reporting to the commission.