Split 4 to 3 Vote Alamogordo Withdraws from Tularosa Dispatch Authority

The Tularosa Basin Regional Dispatch Authority was established in 2022 through a joint powers agreement between the city and Otero County, to provides emergency communication functions for agencies in Alamogordo, Tularosa, Cloudcroft and all rural areas in the county. This agency was supposed to be a model of intergovernmental coordination and collaboration to save taxpayers money and provide better cross functional emergency services.

However since early in its formation it has been enveloped in controversy, had a host is staffing difficulties, questions about the effectiveness of leadership by the executive director and worse a question of power and governance authority with the county commissioner’s interpretation that they have ultimate power to usurp the authority of the governing council. The county commissioner’s interpretation was the governing commission was only an advisory role and that they had the ultimate authority.

The city leadership and staff most directly impacted by the authority to include the police chief wants to withdraw from the Regional Dispatch Authority due to concerns about “operational deficiencies, governance limitations, and unresolved issues with the Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) and proposed budget. These concerns have significantly impacted the City’s ability to participate effectively and equitably in the Authority.”

Additional concerns, per the summary submission to the commission said,  “unilateral actions taken by the authority without proper communication or coordination … These decisions disregard prior board discussions and reinforce the City’s lack of voice in TBRDA leadership and operations.”

The Alamogordo City Commission after much debate in a split decision supported the staff recommendation and by a 4 to 3 voted to withdraw.  The city will now send formal notice of withdrawal and has 180 to reestablish its own dispatch center again. 

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