The Town of Estancia is seeing increased gross receipts tax revenue — similar to a sales tax — as it budgets for the upcoming fiscal year.
Department heads met at the Estancia Public Library on Tuesday to discuss the budget.
Gross receipts tax is the primary source of revenue for the town and Michelle Jones, the town clerk and treasurer, said Estancia is anticipating around $2 million in revenue.
The fiscal year 2026 budget will be similar to the fiscal year 2025 budget, though the town expects to have more money to spend in the upcoming fiscal year in part due to increases in gross receipts tax.
“The number one thing we want to do this year is pay the staff,” Jones told department heads during the discussion.
That slight increase in revenue means the town can offer employees raises and the interim budget submitted to the state calls for a 4% increase in salaries. This will help offset some of the increased cost of living, Jones said.
The interim budget had to be submitted to the state by the end of May. The new fiscal year starts in July. The final budget for fiscal year 2026 is due by the end of July, which gives Estancia time to dig into how fiscal year 2025 ended in terms of revenues and expenditures.
Jones asked the department heads to provide her with wishlist items that they would like to see in the final budget if there is room.
“We, for a long time, had the mentality that we were this little town…we couldn’t do anything, we couldn’t go out of our anything, because we’re too small. We’re broke. No, we found out, if you think big, all of a sudden, things start to happen. It’s amazing. It’s incredible,” Jones said.
One item that was mentioned was a jetter, which would allow the town’s public works department to clear backed up sewer lines without having to pay a private company to do that work.
The workshop on Tuesday served as a preview for future discussions surrounding the fiscal year 2026 budget.
The town board of trustees will meet to discuss the budget at 5 p.m. Wednesday and 6:15 p.m. June 30.