
The Luna County commissioners unanimously approved the county’s approximately $50 million budget during a special meeting Tuesday.
County Manager Charles “Tink” Jackson announced during the July regular county commission meeting that all budgets – including outside entities receiving county funds – will be hit with the five-percent reduction due to decreased county revenue.
The county reportedly is moving forward conservatively with the realization that certain funding, such as the federal Payment in Lieu of Taxes revenue, could be discontinued any year.
This year, the county saw an increase in PILT funding to approximately $1.9 million.
More certain is the county’s largest source of revenue — property taxes. The county projects it will receive about $5.5 million in property taxes this fiscal year, up about $172,000 from the previous year.
The largest expense for the county comes from the Luna County Detention Center, which is expected to expend about $5.5 million for the fiscal year.