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LAS CRUCES - For those residents who have advocated and embraced change, they're going to get it this year.
A quick look ahead gives a pretty good indication that 2011 should be a roller-coaster of a ride.
Susana Martinez has just changed her primary address from Las Cruces to Santa Fe, becoming New Mexico's first woman governor on Saturday. Martinez talked about change in her November victory speech and what it means to her and New Mexicans. Now, we'll see it first-hand.
"The top priority is going to be making sure we are balancing the current budget and get rid of the deficit," Martinez said. "And where do we - very methodically and with a lot of thought - begin to trim or take back excess that exists in that state government. So there has got to be a good analysis. Across-the-board cuts aren't always very thoughtful."
Martinez appears to be ready to hit the ground running but the challenges loom large. Although no stranger to politics, Martinez is still a relative novice when it comes to the wrangling, maneuvering and negotiating familiar to longtime legislators. Some of those lawmakers have wondered aloud if Martinez will be able to become a negotiator.
Garza's challenges
As Martinez's administration has just started, so has the tenure of Robert Garza, who begins his first day on the job today as city manager. Physically, it's a simple matter of moving his personal effects across the hall from his former third-floor office at City Hall.
But
"The legislative session is going to be something we really have to pay attention to," Garza said. "Hold harmless legislation is absolutely the biggest threat the city could face. That's close to $8 million in state funding the city could lose if that legislation is put into effect to ease the state budget deficit."
The hold harmless legislation currently provides New Mexico communities with stipends for not assessing sales tax on groceries purchased.
To put it into perspective, Garza said $8 million is about half of what is currently budgeted to operate the Fire Department, one-third of the Police Department funding, or all of the city's Public Works Department. Garza didn't mince words that the elimination, or reduction, of the state's hold harmless legislation would have a significant effect on the city's budget.
"A cut like that, any cut like that, and you're talking about impacting services for residents," Garza said. "I don't want to have any sectors of city government seriously affected. We would have to take a serious re-evaluation of the city budget and could be forced to make some very serious decisions about how to adjust it, if we were to face an elimination or reduction of hold harmless."
With construction completed on a new City Hall, the Las Cruces Regional Aquatics Center, and the Las Cruces Convention Center, Garza said there will be no major projects added in the foreseeable future.
"It's time to plant seeds for the next 'harvest,'" Garza said. "The time has come for us, as a city, to begin building our reserves back up."
Instead of the attention on major construction projects, Garza said the focus will be on processes and procedures that impact city government and residents.
"The focus should now shift on a dust ordinance, a revised lighting ordinance, and impact fees," Garza said. "The city will also go through redistricting this year, as a result of the 2010 census. Those are just some of the things we'll need to concentrate on in the coming year."
Spaceport evolution
Tens years ago, Spaceport America was only a concept at best. Heck, it wasn't even called Spaceport America then; it was known as the Southwest Regional Spaceport.
But years of dreams and planning by so many people has reached the point where the first inland commercial spaceport in the U.S. is inching closer and closer every day to becoming reality. There is growing public excitement and anticipation for the next generation of space travel, but Spaceport America's executive director, Rick Homans, said the focus is - and should be - on the task at hand: making Spaceport America fully operational.
"The facilities will be complete in 2011," said Homans, quite matter-of-factly. "But Spaceport America will be in the pre-operative phase that will include extensive testing, practicing, dress rehearsals and getting everything up and running so it will be ready for commercial operations in 2012. Three RFPs (requests for proposals) are active right now for general services, protective services and technical services, and those contracts will be awarded in the first half of 2011."
Construction of a road that will provide access from the Upham exit, off of Interstate 25, to the southern end of Spaceport America is also anticipated to start sometime this year. Completion of visitors centers in Hatch and Truth or Consequences, and the spaceport's main terminal building are also planned, and an official announcement of plans to build a resort facility nearby could come later this year.
While Spaceport America has transformed from a desolate area in the southern New Mexico desert, Homans is trying to keep an even keel.
"It's not the time, yet, for celebrations," Homans said. "We realize we still have to continue the same work ethic, discipline and attention to detail that's been shown so far. We continue to remain very focused, trying to keep energy in reserve for the issues you didn't expect. In this process we've learned there's always surprises that weren't anticipated."
Census data to shape the next decade
It doesn't really matter what sector you work or live in. Forthcoming data from the 2010 census should end up making some kind of impact in your life.
"Those numbers will undoubtedly have a big impact on the types of federal funds and programs the city will be able to offer," Garza said. "Whether people realize it or not, a substantial portion of city government relies heavily on federal funding, and the census will be an indication to the federal government just how much funding the city will receive."
Las Cruces' estimated population is 93,452. Almost 20,000 more people live in Las Cruces now than they did when the 2000 census was conducted. Results from the census will indirectly indicate what city council districts residents will be placed in. That means that at least some residents could be placed in a different district.
The census could also affect the amount of federal money given to the Las Cruces Public Schools.
Southern New Mexico's military
The military's presence is southern New Mexico continues to make a powerful impact. White Sands Missile Range's economic impact on southern New Mexico, and particularly Las Cruces, is more than $1 million a day. The vast majority of WSMR's civilian employees live in Las Cruces. Even though WSMR is separated by the Organ Mountains and at least 23 miles to downtown Las Cruces, it's still considered an integral part of the community.
WSMR is currently going through deployments as the bulk of the approximately 550 soldiers with the 2nd Engineer Battalion are in Afghanistan. Although no one is willing to venture a guess, the best projection is that the soldiers will be coming home sometime in April.
"We're anxiously awaiting their return," said Monte Marlin, WSMR spokeswoman. "They coming home will definitely be one of the biggest highlights of the coming year."
WSMR's economic impact on southern New Mexico is expected to remain strong.
"We continue to be busy with all of the missions we have going on out here in support of the American warfighter," Marlin said. "That's not expected to change this year, much less anytime soon."
Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452.
Sun-News Reporter Diana Alba contributed to this story.
