Las Cruces reviews fiscal year 2023 budget

LAS CRUCES, NM – The Las Cruces City Council reviewed the city government’s proposed US$123 million, US$335,646 preliminary budget for fiscal year 2023 before it takes effect next July 1, 2022.

The City Council reported that the proposed budget is a 4% increase from the city’s approved 2022 budget.

That funding includes salary increases of 3.5% for non-represented and non-union city employees, a 0.5 percent increase in state Public Employees Retirement Association benefits and a 4 percent hike in health care and dental benefits for workers.

In addition, the budget will also include the establishment of “Lift Up Las Cruces,” a multi-departmental effort to combine resources and improve neighborhoods in the community. The program identifies needs or concerns within a neighborhood and will allow the City Council to focus resources in one place to have the greatest impact.

Budget development will again be one of the topics to be addressed at the April 25 City Council meeting. A public hearing on the project will be held on May 4 and the City Council could authorize the proposal during its May 16, 2022 meeting.

The adopted FY 2022 operating and capital budget was presented to the Council in May 2021. The budget document serves as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide and communication device for the city.

It also captures incremental changes in service needs and builds on initiatives funded in previous years while setting new direction for programs. The budget is also used to evaluate the effectiveness of city programs and services, while providing comprehensive information on municipal operations.

The adopted FY 2022 Las Cruces budget totals $499.6 million and is comprised of five parts: the General Fund, restricted funds, capital funds, internal funds, and enterprise funds.

The City’s largest operating fund is the General Fund, with an adopted budget of US$118.2 million in FY 2022.

Source: MEXICONOW Staff