Entering the 2026 legislative session, the Village of Santa Clara is seeking $1 million in funding from the Grant County’s Regional Water Project. The funding would contribute toward the estimated $14.85 million construction cost of a water transmission line connecting Santa Clara to Hanover. This connection represents a key component of a broader initiative to integrate all Mining District municipalities and surrounding communities in central Grant County into a single regional water system. Future phases of the project include a connection between Hurley and the southern storage tanks in 2028, a pipeline along U.S. 180 to serve Bayard in 2029, and a tank and pipeline project linking Santa Clara, Rosedale, and Arenas Valley in 2030.
The New Mexico Department Board of Finance has awarded the City of Lordsburg an $800,000 emergency grant to address elevated fluoride levels in the municipal drinking water supply. The funding will support the identification and implementation of short-term mitigation strategies, including facility modifications and operational adjustments aimed at reducing fluoride concentrations. The project will include a hydrogeological study, an evaluation of existing wells, and an assessment of water treatment plant infrastructure, with necessary well repairs completed as required.
In the 2024 Government Results and Opportunity (GRO) Fund, $1.28 million was allocated to support projects focused on arts, food security, domestic violence shelters, and libraries across Grant, Hidalgo, Catron, and Luna counties. If awarded again this year, GRO funding in Grant County would continue to support nonprofit and community initiatives that are often ineligible for traditional grants or capital outlay funding. Anticipated uses include operational and administrative support, food security services, educational programs, historic preservation, and improved signage at cultural and historic sites to enhance tourism and community access.
In other news:
The New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department is now accepting electronically filed income tax returns through the Taxpayer Access Point (TAP), a system designed to expedite refund processing for taxpayers. To utilize TAP, personal income tax filers must have previously filed a New Mexico return; first-year personal income tax filers are required to submit returns electronically through approved third-party software or file a paper return. Taxpayers have until April 15 to file their returns and remit any taxes owed.
