Area leaders fear project cuts

Area leaders are concerned Clovis’ effluent water reuse project may face cuts as the Legislature tries to find money across the state to make up a $400 million deficit.

Tuesday, Curry County Commissioner Bobby Sandoval and Clovis Community Development Director Claire Burroughes were among a group that traveled to Santa Fe to try to keep more than $900,000.

City Manager Joe Thomas said the effluent reuse pipeline is at approximately 25 percent in the design phase.

Money the state allocated a couple of years ago for the project has been discussed by the Legislature for possible reclamation by the state.

Thomas said the group that went to Santa Fe was prepared to show Legislators other possible money sources and also will attempt to argue the project is under way, hoping to stave off cuts.

There were other projects the Legislature has looked at, but Thomas said the city has been able to save the money by showing that those projects were in construction.

Thomas said it will not be known if the project saved until the end of the special session.