Las Cruces, New Mexico
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Contents |
[edit] Website evaluation
This Web site was most recently evaluated Jan. 12, 2012.
[edit] The good
- Current and past budgets are available.[2]
- Audits are posted.[3]
- Minutes, agendas, and notices are posted.[4][5]
- Contact information for elected officials is available.[6]
- Contact information and official duties are posted for administrative officials.[7]
- Information on building, planning, and zoning are available along with the necessary fees and forms.[8][9][10]
- Open Bids, Quotes and Proposals are available.[11]
- The city manager includes lobbying information, along with justification, in weekly newsletters.[12]
- Public information is provided by the Public Information Office and has contact information posted.[13]
- Tax revenue and description of local taxes are available.[14]
[edit] Budget
The 2011-2012 budget expends $299 million which is 5.9% less than the 2010-2011 budget. The document projects $243.7 million in revenue which is $11 million less than 2010-2011.[15]
| Expenditure | Amount | Percent |
| Utilities | $111,475,539 | 29% |
| Transfers Out | $80,080,336 | 21% |
| General Government | $33,189,067 | 9% |
| Public Safety | $38,611,501 | 10% |
| Fiscal Agencies | $13,789,660 | 4% |
| Facilities | $27,684,336 | 7% |
| Public Works | $33,567,982 | 9% |
| Public Services | $17,488,734 | 5% |
| Community Development | $10,966,748 | 3% |
| Debt Service | $12,424,429 | 3% |
| Total | $379,278,332 | 100% |
[edit] Stimulus
After the passage of the federal stimulus bill, the city of Las Cruces requested $177 million of New Mexico's $1.1 billion in aid.[16] According to Stimulus Watch, Las Cruces has received $31,468,434.67 in stimulus money.[17]
[edit] Public Employees
[edit] Elected Officials
The city council consists of 6 city councillors elected in districts and 1 mayor elected at-large. Both serve staggered four-year terms.[18]
| First | Last | Position | District | Salary with Benefits |
| Miguel | Silva | Councillor | 1 | $40,182 |
| Gregory | Smith | Councillor | 2 | $40,182 |
| Olga | Pedroza | Councillor | 3 | $40,182 |
| Nathan | Small | Councillor | 4 | $40,182 |
| Gill | Sorg | Councillor | 5 | $40,182 |
| Sharon | Thomas | Councillor | 6 | $40,182 |
| Ken | Miyagishima | Mayor | $102,749.00 |
[edit] Administrative Officials
The executive branch of city government is made up of the City Manager, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief Operating Officer. The City Manager is Robert Garza and he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Las Cruces. The Chief Administrative Officer, otherwise known as the Assistant City Manager, is Brian Denmark. The Chief Operating Officer, also considered an Assistant City manager, is Mark Winson.[19]
Garza was one of ten people on Dona Ana County named to be a "mover and shaker" in 2011 by the Las Cruces Sun-News.[20]
[edit] Salaries and Benefits
The 2011-2012 budget allocates $51 million in salaries and benefits which is a $1.6 million increase over 2010-2011.[21]
The city employs 1,502 people of which 1,447 are full time.[22]
Salary information is available in the budget and from the Las Cruces Sun-News.[23][24] The following table shows the top 10 salaries as of March, 2012.
| Name | Position | Salaries |
| Robert Garza | City Manager | $163,000 |
| Brian Denmark | Chief Operating Officer | $120,000 |
| Dr. Jorge Garcia | Utilities Director | $115,100 |
| Mark Winson | Chief Administrative Officer | $115,000 |
| Harry (Pete)Connelly | City Attornney | $114,500 |
| Richard Williams | Police Chief | $107,000 |
| David Weir | Community Development Director | $102,867 |
| Travis Brown | Fire Chief | $102,000 |
| Melissa Miller-Byrnes | Presiding Municipal Judge | $100,467 |
| Scott Marr | Information Technology Director | $100,000 |
[edit] Pensions
In the 2011-2012 budget, Las Cruces spent $9,290,613 on pension costs for city employees in the Public Employee Retirement Association of New Mexico.[25]
The city website posts a benefits matrix that outlines benefits received by four different types of city employees: unrepresented, blue collar union, police, and fire. The most recent matrix is from August of 2010.[26] The following table outlines the pension (PERA) contribution of employee versus employer.
| Employee Type | Employee Contribution | Employer Contribution |
| Unrepresented | 7.15% | 15.15% |
| Blue Collar Union | 10.65% | 11.65% |
| Police (represented) | 16.30% | 18.50% |
| Police (unrepresented) | 10.30% | 24.50% |
| Fire (represented) | 13.4 | 24.05 |
| Fire (unrepresented | 12.2 | 25.25 |
[edit] Emergency personnel
The city Chief of Police is Richard Williams. He earns a base salary of $100,000 and earns $142,445 with benefits included.[27]
The 2011-2012 budget allocates $38,611,501 to public safety including $17,562,440 to police salaries and benefits.[28]
[edit] Lobbying
Las Cruces has paid for lobbying since 1998. Most recently, Las Cruces spent $40,000 in 2011 on Cornerstone Government Affairs to lobby Congress on the federal budget and appropriations.[29]
| Year | Amount Spent on Lobbying |
| 2011 | $40,000 |
| 2010 | $80,000 |
| 2009 | $80,000 |
| 2008 | $80,000 |
| 2007 | $40,000 |
| 2006 | $80,000 |
| 2005 | $80,000 |
| 2004 | $40,000 |
| 2003 | $40,000 |
| 2002 | $40,000 |
| 2001 | $40,000 |
| 2000 | $44,000 |
| 1999 | $40,000 |
| 1998 | $40,000 |
| Total | $764,000 |
[edit] Transparency & public records
The city has a Public Information Office that handles public records requests and also has strategic plans, city council meetings and agendas, meeting schedules, and the city TV station as resources.[30]
[edit] Taxes
The 2011-2012 budget projects $243.7 million in revenue which is $11 million less than 2010-2011.[31]
| Revenue Source | Percent |
| Charges for Services | 21% |
| Grants | 8% |
| Property Taxes | 4% |
| Gross Receipts Tax | 24% |
| Transfers | 24% |
| Other | 19% |
The city council has recently approved new impact fees on new buildings by a vote of 5-2. A new single family home will owe the city $2,133 in new impact fees. The fees are slated to be used for roads, drainage, and public safety.[32]
[edit] External links
- City of Las Cruces Web Site
- City of Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Las Cruces on Wikipedia
- Las Cruces on City Data
- Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce
- Las Cruces Sun-News
- New Mexico State University located in Las Cruces
- See sample transparency legislation at the Sunshine Standard
- New Mexico on State Budget Solutions
[edit] References
- ↑ Census
- ↑ Budget
- ↑ Audits
- ↑ Minutes and Agendas
- ↑ Calendar
- ↑ City Council
- ↑ Executive
- ↑ Development Services
- ↑ Zoning
- ↑ Building
- ↑ E-Procurement System
- ↑ Newsletters
- ↑ Public Information
- ↑ Overview
- ↑ Financial Services
- ↑ Las Cruces Sun-News "NM to see $1.1B from stimulus bill"
- ↑ Stimulus Watch
- ↑ City Council
- ↑ Executive
- ↑ Las Cruces Sun-News "The movers and shakers of 2011: Robert Garza"
- ↑ Financial Services
- ↑ Financial Services
- ↑ Financial Services
- ↑ Las Cruces Sun-News "Las Cruces city salaries run gamut"
- ↑ Financial Services
- ↑ Human Resources
- ↑ Financial Services
- ↑ Financial Services
- ↑ Open Secrets
- ↑ Public Information Office Resources
- ↑ Financial Services
- ↑ Las Cruces Sun-News "Council approves impact fees"
