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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Papen
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
1/22/08
HB
SHORT TITLE Dona Ana Regional Comprehensive Planning
SB 94
ANALYST Propst
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY08
FY09
$300.0
Recurring
General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 94, Making an Appropriation for Dona Ana County to Conduct a Regional
Comprehensive Planning Process, appropriates $300 thousand from the general fund to DFA for
the purpose of conducting a regional comprehensive planning process.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $300 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general
fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY09 shall revert to the
general fund.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
DFA notes that SB 94 will enhance the work begun with the following funding:
In accordance with the laws of 2007, Chapter 42, Section 68, Paragraph 289, $25.0 thousand was
appropriated from the general fund for a master plan to determine land use and infrastructure
projects and identify areas of development and preservation in Dona Ana county. This grant is
administered by the DFA. The County has begun the process of conducting a regional plan
through this funding.
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Senate Bill 94 – Page
2
Dona Ana Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved a resolution on March 29, 2007,
with the City of Las Cruces and New Mexico State University to share the costs of a regional
planning project entitled Vision 2040 which will provide a policy framework to guide actions of
the County and plan for long-term growth and change. This Vision 2040 plan also provides for
the updating of the County Comprehensive Plan. The Dona Ana County comprehensive plan has
not been updated since 1995. The agreement designated the City of Las Cruces as the fiscal
agent for the project. A consultant contract has already been awarded for this project.
Geographically, Dona County is located at the southernmost end of the state, along the border.
The intent of the bill is to provide a regional approach to the planning process and address issues
related to growth, economy, environment, and transportation. A Regional plan would look at
rural communities, many of which are colonias, and include them in planning for infrastructure,
housing, and the establishment of school bus routes.
Yearly, DFA receives approximately $14 million from Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
through the Small Cities Program. Ten percent of these funds are set aside for the purpose of
addressing colonias' needs relating to water and waste water (only). This leaves a myriad of
services needing to be addressed in a regional comprehensive plan.
The following are counties where colonias (139) exist in New Mexico: Dona Ana County (35);
Grant County (33); Otero County (16); Catron County (34); Hidalgo County (7); Luna County
(6); Eddy County (5); Sierra County (1); Chavez County (1); and Socorro County (1).
A regional plan for Dona County is underway through a $25.0 thousand 2007 general fund
appropriation for the purpose of conducting a land/infrastructure master plan. Funding in SB 94
would enhance the 2007 funds already appropriated.
All work completed through the 2007 appropriation should be incorporated into the final result
of SB 94.
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