Grant County commissioners on Sept. 25 approved the fiscal-year 2026 budget for the county’s transit provider (referred to in meeting materials as Gorda/Coricaminos) and adopted Resolution R-25-61 reaffirming a county financial commitment of $80,000 to the service.

Corey Kiminos, the transit presenter at the meeting, reported the system is projected to finish fiscal year 2025 at about 76,600 rides, a modest increase from the prior year’s 73,484 trips, and said the program will come in just under budget. Kiminos told the commission the system is awaiting delivery of three buses and one van that the commission previously approved; the van is subject to a manufacturer recall and cannot be released by the Department of Transportation until the recall is resolved and the vehicle passes DOT inspection. The buses were expected to ship within about a month, the presenter said.

For FY26, the presenter said the budget includes a proposed 5% pay increase for Cori/Coricaminos staff: regular drivers would be set at $16.18 per hour, commercial drivers with a CDL at $17.05 per hour and lead drivers at $17.62 per hour. The presenter said the only county financial obligation is the $80,000 cost-share; the program is primarily funded by federal grants and cost-share contributions from Silver City, Deming, Luna County and Grant County.

Commissioner Flores moved to approve the FY26 budget and Commissioner Medina seconded; the motion passed on a voice vote. Separately, the commission moved and approved Resolution R-25-61 to ratify the county’s $80,000 commitment for the transit service. Commissioners praised the service’s ridership numbers and noted the county contribution has not increased for a number of years.

The action authorizes the county’s continued financial support at the $80,000 level and allows the transit agency to proceed with operations and the planned vehicle deliveries subject to manufacturer and DOT processes.