The quarter-mill property tax will fund water conservation, flood prevention, agriculture and habitat restoration. District officials pledge community input and financial accountability.

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

LAS CRUCES - Voters in the Doña Ana Soil and Water Conservation District overwhelmingly approved a property tax levy Tuesday, creating a recurring source of local funding for water conservation, flood prevention, agricultural assistance and environmental restoration.

Unofficial results from the New Mexico secretary of state's office showed 52,854 votes in favor, or 85.8%, compared with 8,771 votes against, or 14.2%.

The measure passed by 44,083 votes out of 61,625 cast, according to election results downloaded Wednesday, Nov. 4, at approximately 11:20 a.m.

The ballot question authorizes the district's board of supervisors to establish an annual property tax levy of up to 0.25 mills. At the maximum rate, that represents 25 cents for every $1,000 of taxable property value.

The Trust for Public Land estimated before the election that the levy could generate approximately $1.6 million annually.

District manager thanks voters

In a Wednesday news release, District Manager Jennifer Kleitz called the result an important milestone for conservation efforts across Doña Ana County.

"On behalf of the Doña Ana Soil and Water Conservation District, I want to sincerely thank the voters who participated in this election and placed their trust in our work," Kleitz said. "This is an important moment for our District and for the communities we serve."

Kleitz said the new funding could help expand existing programs while allowing the district to pursue projects that have been difficult to sustain through temporary grants.

"It means more resources to protect our water, support farmers and ranchers, improve soil health, reduce flood risks, plant trees, restore habitat and connect residents with conservation programs that directly benefit their communities," she said.

She also emphasized the district's responsibility to demonstrate how the revenue is used.

"We are grateful for this vote of confidence, and we take the responsibility that comes with it seriously," Kleitz said. "Our next chapter will be built in partnership with the people of Doña Ana County, with transparency, accountability and a commitment to making sure these resources create meaningful benefits across our District."

What the new funding can support

The ballot question identifies several conservation priorities, including watershed improvements above dams, tree planting through the NeighborWoods program and wildlife habitat restoration along the Rio Grande.

The district also works with farmers and ranchers to improve soil health and conserve water.

In earlier reporting by KRWG, Kleitz described a partnership that pays agricultural producers to plant cover crops on fields taken out of production to help conserve groundwater.

NeighborWoods, meanwhile, plants trees in Las Cruces neighborhoods and other communities to provide shade and help address extreme heat.

The district's Wednesday statement identified additional potential uses for the revenue, including protecting drinking-water sources, restoring open spaces, improving floodplains and providing natural-resource education.

Kleitz previously told KRWG that the district depends heavily on state funding and competitive grants. When grants expire, she said, the district has sometimes been forced to lay off employees.

The new levy is intended to provide a more dependable funding base for retaining staff, continuing existing programs and pursuing additional grants and partnerships.

Community input and oversight

According to the district's announcement, its approved resolution calls for community participation in determining how levy revenue will be spent.

That process is expected to include gathering recommendations from residents, sharing information about existing programs and developing strategies to reach historically under-resourced communities.

The district also plans to work with agricultural producers, local governments, community organizations and other partners to identify conservation priorities.

The ballot measure requires an independent annual audit of revenues and expenditures, and levy proceeds must be spent for the purposes authorized by voters.

The district said it will release more information in the coming months about implementation, public participation opportunities and the timeline for putting the funding to work.

"This vote gives us new tools, but our mission remains the same," Kleitz said. "We will continue working alongside our communities to care for the soil, conserve water and make Doña Ana County more resilient for the generations that come after us."

Although the district includes Las Cruces and much of Doña Ana County, its boundaries do not encompass every county precinct. Only eligible voters within the conservation district voted on the levy.

The election results remain unofficial until certified by the state.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.