Mountainair residents will see increased costs for waste collection and credit card payments beginning in September, while the town boosts police salaries to address recruitment challenges that have left positions vacant.
The Mountainair Town Council approved salary increases for the police department, with the Police Chief position receiving a $5 per hour raise and patrol officers getting a $3 per hour increase, Mayor Peter Nieto announced in a public message to residents last week.
“We’re confident this adjustment will help attract interest in the Patrol Officer role, which has been difficult to fill,” Nieto said in the message. “These increases were necessary to remain competitive, as neighboring departments have recently raised their wages as well.”
The salary increases come after the town struggled with police recruitment when a police chief candidate “ghosted” Mountainair in July 2024 after Mayor Nieto assisted with the candidate’s certification process.
The pay raises align with statewide efforts to address law enforcement recruitment challenges. New Mexico State Police received a 14% salary increase to $38.48 per hour in fiscal year 2025, with officials noting that local police departments struggle to retain officers due to salary competition among agencies.
For Mountainair’s residents, the police salary improvements come alongside two cost increases beginning in September.
Solid waste rates will increase by 5% across all services as part of the town’s effort “to maintain quality services in the face of rising operational costs,” Nieto said.
Additionally, the town will no longer absorb credit card processing fees for municipal payments, ending a policy introduced during COVID-19. The mayor said the growing cost of absorbing these fees has become unsustainable.
“Going forward, any payments made by credit card will include a processing fee,” Nieto announced. “Alternative no-fee payment options remain available: cash, check or money order.”
The credit card fee change was approved at a previous council meeting, not during the most recent session.
The Town of Mountainair holds council meetings on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Meeting Room located at 107 ½ N. Roosevelt.
