Legislative Session brings Funding to Torrance County

When the New Mexico Legislature closed its session in February 2024, it introduced a new Government Results and Opportunity Project Fund intended to cover the costs of local earmarks and pilot programs. For Torrance County, this meant a grand total of $1,480,000.00 in local project funding (some of which will go to multiple counties or will be disbursed over multiple years) that was set aside.

The largest single disbursement for Torrance County is $320,000.00, awarded to the Mid-Region Council of Governments. Who the Mid-Region Council of Governments will give that $320,000.00 to - EMWT Regional Water Association or Torrance County itself - is unknown but significant due to the legal problems at EMWT Regional Water Association.

The breakdown of awards is as follows:

• $320,000.00 for the Estancia Valley Water Systems and Rights, awarded to the Mid-Region Council of Governments
• $200,000.00 for the Torrance County Road Department’s Programmatic Costs and Resources, awarded to the Mid-Region Council of Governments
• $160,000.00 for the Torrance County Sheriff’s Office Programmatic Costs and Resources, awarded to the Mid-Region Council of Governments
• $200,000.00 for Emergency Medical Technician Resources, awarded to the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District*
• $200,000.00 for Senate District 39 Senior Center Food Support, awarded to the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District*
• $200,000.00 for Senate District 39 Small and Rural Libraries Operating and Material Support, awarded to the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District*
• $200,000.00 for New Mexico State University Agricultural Education Programs, awarded to the New Mexico State University*

Items marked with asterisks mean that this award is an earmark of money that will be used for multiple counties.