Las Cruces City Council has adopted a Resolution authorizing an amendment to the City’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget to adjust the bonds designated as State Shared Gross Receipts Tax (SSGRT) Improvement Revenue Bonds Series 2023A and to amend the 2024 fiscal year budget to the Vehicle Acquisition Fund.
Source: City of Las Cruces (Photo: Courtesy)
City Council approved the Resolution at its meeting Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Council Chambers at City Hall, 700 N. Main St.
The Resolution adjusts the City’s 2024 fiscal year budget to allow expenditures of the SSGRT Series 2023A Bonds proceeds for fire equipment and includes an amendment to the Vehicle Acquisition Fund for additional purchase of as many as five new replacement vehicles for the Las Cruces Police Department. Additional funds have been identified by LCPD for those units.
The Council approved a Resolution in October 2023 that authorized City staff to apply for financial assistance from New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA) for the acquisition of fire equipment and to equip fire stations. In November, the Council adopted an Ordinance for the issuance of $5.6 million in SSGRT Series 2023A Bonds.
The City’s current Fiscal Year 2024 Vehicle Acquisition List identifies the purchase of two fire engines, a ladder truck, an ambulance, and a crash truck and rescue vehicle. The budget adjustment approved Tuesday will issue a revised budget for costs related to debt issuance, purchase of the equipment, and the bond debt service payment for principal and interest.
Also, at Tuesday’s meeting, City Council approved a Resolution to authorize ground ambulance services to American Medical Response (AMR) for a not-to-exceed annual amount of $3 million. The agreement becomes effective March 1, 2024, and will continue through February 2029, and includes an option to extend the contract for three additional one-year terms.
The services will provide Advanced, Intermediate, and Basic Life Support staffed ambulances.
The new agreement uses an innovative approach to emergency medical care demand within Doña Ana County. The EMS System improvement will result from creating three distinct response zones throughout Doña Ana County.
The new contract includes the establishment of performance measures, equipment requirements, third-party tracking, and penalties and emergency takeover provisions that AMR will comply with. The Las Cruces Fire Department will continue providing critical call ambulance response for medical emergencies involving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), gunshot wounds, officer distress, motor vehicle accidents, strokes, and chest pain calls within the City of Las Cruces.
