Municipal court will keep doors open, concerns over future budget remain

In a 5-1 vote the City of Socorro council agreed to keep the municipal court.

Mayor Ravi Bhasker said the municipal ordinance jurisdiction advisory committee had a recommendation that was four to three to keep the court.

The advisory committee included Bhasker, Councilor Michael Olguin, Jr., Municipal Judge Joseph Gutierrez, Police Chief Angel Garcia, Code Enforcement Officer Chris Carrillo, David Naranjo and JC Trujillo.

City Manager Don Monette said the council had two options to accept the recommendation and keep the court or reject the recommendation and send it to the supreme court.

“The advisory committee decided mostly on friendship, that’s my feeling, and so I don’t think that was fair,” Bhasker said, “but it didn’t really look at the numbers and the facts, in my mind.”

He said he was concerned about the court’s ongoing operational deficit of $100,000 per year on top of the recent raise for the judge, the low caseload of the court of about two cases a day and warned of a future recession that could further strain city revenue making it even more important to re-examine costly departments such as the court.

“ I’m just seeing that we’re slowly going down to where we’re subsidizing it, to where it’s going to affect our budget eventually, whether it’s in three years or four years, we’re going to eventually need to look at places where we can cut because I’ll guarantee you, we’re going to be going into a recession in the next two, three years,” Bhasker said, “I’m only trying to protect the budget, that’s the bottom line,”

Olguin said they didn’t have numbers to discuss at the two committee meetings.

“I take offense that it’s a friendship thing. It was based on what we had,” Olguin said.

Olguin said he recommended the committee and administration collaborate with the judge or their administrative staff, as well as the chief and code enforcement. This collaborative effort, along with the council, would review ordinances, procedures and other relevant matters to improve the court rather than eliminate it, said Olguin.

“I feel like having a municipal judge just gives the city a little more bite, it just gives an opportunity to just for those cases to be heard and for somebody to have some emphasis on those cases. That’s my rationale behind voting that way,” Councilor Joel Partridge said.

Councilor Deborah Dean said it would be nice to know where the money will come from if they keep the court.

“You know, we always make things work, and I’m sure whatever way this goes, we’ll make it work.” Dean said.

Councilor Anton Salome said the surge in city revenues during COVID and federal relief funds led to temporary financial strength, but warned of the fiscal challenges ahead as those revenues recede and inflation rises, impacting city budgeting and decision-making.

“Now we’re faced with the dilemma that we’re worried about gross receipts taxes in the future, and based on the effects of what has happened with the shutdown,” Salome said, “I know that the administration and the mayor and the council and the community will work together and find a way through this, but, but it may not be easy.”

Councilors Mary Ann Chavez-Lopez, Deborah Dean, Michael Olguin, Joel Partridge, Anton Salome voted in favor of keeping the court and Peter Romero voted against it.

“This could be a good chance for us to make improvements,” Councilor Olguin said.

Other business

In other business, the wastewater connection fees for the Evergreen area project was unanimously approved. According to the ordinance, in the first year the connection fee is $650, which can be made in payments, in the second year the cost will go up to $1,000. Connections are mandatory for properties that are within 100 feet of the newly constructed waste water expansion lines.

The City of Socorro was awarded the “Best Overall Audit for Large Municipalities” from the Office of the State Auditor for the second year in a row. It was presented during the Municipal League Conference in Ruidoso.

The council also discussed potentially going to a four day work week for some of city employees. Bhasker said several local entities such as Socorro Electric Co-op and school districts have moved to four day weeks to attract employees. He said some public-facing services such as the senior center and landfill might need to stay open five days a week to meet community needs. Councilors agreed to continue discussions.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 21.