Council approved nearly $5 million in other gross receipts tax-backed capital projects after removing funding for roof work at the LCPD Academy facility on Hermosa.

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

LAS CRUCES - Las Cruces City Council unanimously removed a proposed $360,000 roof rehabilitation project for the Las Cruces Police Department Academy on Monday, June 1, after councilors questioned the cost of work at a facility described during the meeting as a double-wide.

The project was included in a proposed amendment to the city’s fiscal year 2026-2031 Capital Improvements Program. City documents identified the project as roof rehabilitation for the LCPD Academy and proposed using new gross receipts tax funding for the work.

During council discussion, Mayor Eric Enriquez asked whether the proposed project involved the police academy building at 300 N. Hermosa St. Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story confirmed the location and said the work also included a mat room.

“It also includes the mat room; that’s a relatively small metal building,” Story said.

City Councilor Michael Harris questioned why the city would spend $360,000 on the roof project rather than replace the structures.

“Can you explain why $360,000 to replace the roof of a double-wide instead of buying two brand new ones?” Harris asked.

Story told council he could not explain the proposed amount because LCPD was not involved in the facilities process, although the department continues to use the building and the roof needs replacement.

“That is kind of a shocking number considering the value of the building itself,” Story said.

Jimmy Moreno, assistant director of Public Works, told council the project costs were rough estimates and said staff would examine less expensive options, including roof overlays. Moreno said the city could shift funds elsewhere if the cost of the work exceeded the building’s value or usefulness.

Harris later returned to the proposed allocation, saying he would rather the city purchase a new facility than put that amount toward reroofing a double-wide.

“That seems absurd,” Harris said.

Council then voted unanimously to remove the LCPD Academy roof rehabilitation project from the capital improvements amendment. Council subsequently approved the amended resolution unanimously.

After the $360,000 police academy roof item was removed, the resolution included $4.94 million in new gross receipts tax-backed capital project funding.

The largest remaining allocations included $1.5 million to reroof the Armando “Mondy” Castañeda Service Center, $725,000 for deferred maintenance at city facilities, $600,000 for the Maag Ballfield parking lot, $540,000 for citywide roof preservation and rehabilitation projects and $510,000 for downtown parking lots 3 and 4.

Other allocations included $360,000 for park drinking fountains, $200,000 for citywide parking lot rehabilitation, $150,000 for park restroom repairs, $110,000 for security and fire alarm projects, $90,000 for park deferred maintenance, $80,000 for the Frank O’Brien Papen Community Center parking lot, $60,000 for lighting replacement at Heske Garden in Valley View Park and $15,000 for surveillance and access controls.

The June 1 meeting and all City Council meetings can be viewed on the City's YouTube channel.

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.