Understanding Torrance County's Proposed Capital Improvement Expenditures
Torrance County’s FY 2027–2031 Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan proposes a total capital expenditure of $129,951,528 USD. Below is a breakdown of the projects for which funding is being sought from Torrance County’s FY 2027–2031 Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP) by high‑level department/functional category. Each project is grouped into a logical category (i.e., Road & Transportation, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety) before the total proposed capital funding is calculated. These totals are based on the project‑summary table in the county’s ICIP packet.
| Category | Example projects (ICIP FY‑2027–2031) | Total Proposed Funding (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Road & Transportation | County Road Improvements, Road Dept. Equipment, Road Dept. Water‑system upgrades, Roads Assessment, NM41 Rail‑to‑Trail conversion, Municipal Airport improvements | $39,402,498 |
| Parks & Recreation | Fair‑grounds renovation, Arthur Park & Lake improvements, Multi‑generational facility & gym, Mountainair rodeo‑ground upgrades, Duran schoolhouse feasibility study, Ball fields development, Torrance County Park development | $30,655,120 |
| Public Safety & Emergency Services | Fire‑station water‑system upgrades, Fire Dept. comprehensive plan, Medical response vehicles, Emergency management facility and shelter, P25/700 MHz radio system, Emergency‑management equipment, Fire station, Emergency helipads, Emergency‑medical‑services building | $24,126,153 |
| Finance & Administration | New county government offices, Restoration/preservation of historical records, Asset‑management plan | $13,487,900 |
| Animal Services | New regional animal shelter, Animal‑shelter improvements | $11,560,000 |
| Water & Utilities | Duran water‑system improvements, Abo water‑system development, Water wells with tanks, Torreon well & water system, Mescalero reservoir dam mitigation | $9,439,861 |
| Health Services | 24/7 urgent‑care facility | $1,280,000 |
Visualizing the spending
To better understand where Torrance County is seeking capital dollars, the following charts show total proposed expenditures by category and each category’s share of the total plan.
- Bar chart: shows absolute spending in each category. Road & transportation projects (new roads, equipment, and the NM-41 rail-to-trail conversion) represent the most significant investment, at roughly $39.4 million, followed by Parks & Recreation projects at roughly $30.7 million.
- Pie chart: illustrates each category’s share of the total ICIP budget. Public Safety & Emergency Services account for ~19 % of the plan, while Finance & Administration projects make up just over 10 %.
Overall, Torrance County’s ICIP prioritizes long‑term infrastructure and community investments. Road and transportation projects, including the NM-41 rail-to-trail conversion, absorb the largest proposed share of resources, while revitalizing parks, building new animal shelter capacity, and improving public safety facilities also seek substantial funding.