Cost of expansion

Talk of expansion at Cannon AFB and the resulting costs has been ongoing among community leaders since the base received its new mission.

But taking action in response to the local costs is turning out to be a waiting game.

Police, fire, emergency services, city and county staffs may need to be supplemented, according to the heads of each department.

Clovis Police Chief Steve Sanders said the police department used projected growth numbers to anticipate what impact the expansion would have on the department’s resources.

“We’re involved in a microplex growth program. We’re looking at that to see how we’re going to pace out (growth). We’ll look at anticipated growth year-to-year to make sure we have what we need,” he said.

Sanders said any expansion the department decides to make depends on fluctuating call volumes.

“We’re starting to see an influx of airmen already, but we haven’t seen a change in calls for service, which is what mandates out need for resources,” he said. “It would be premature to bring on bodies you may not need yet, but we’re looking at it closely. We will secure the manpower we need to meet the needs of the public.”

Personnel at Cannon is projected to grow from the current 2,000 to more than 5,000.

Sanders said the police department currently has six vacancies to fill, and another 10-12 officers could be needed if call volumes rise with the increase in population.

Capt. Lonnie Berry with the Portales Police Department said the department is trying to be proactive, while also avoiding jumping the gun.

“It’s going to have to be played by ear,” he said. “But it’s hard to know how many more additional calls we’ll have until the new population is here. We’ll stay business as usual until we can see what kind of numbers we’re dealing with.”

Portales Fire Chief John Bridges said he will be less affected than Clovis, but population increase is still something the fire department is looking at.

“We’ve looked at a potential for an increase in population translating to a potential for increase in call volume and an increase in personnel to accommodate,” he said. “It’s easy to project, but as the need arises, we’ll make changes. It’ll be incremental changes.”

In Clovis, school Superintendent Rhonda Seidenwurm said taxes will not need to be raised to pay for a possible new $20 million middle school. Seidenwurm believes normal growth of the tax base combined with state money for new schools will be adequate to fund any changes due to growth at Cannon.

Clovis Fire Chief Ray Westerman said that figuring out how to adjust for an increase in population from Cannon is difficult because base people could live anywhere in the surrounding areas.

“More people means more need, but thus far we don’t know where they will be,” he said. “Some may choose to live in the surround areas.”

Westerman said CFD provides ambulance service for Cannon, and a rise in that needs is being considered.

“It depends on the need of the wing itself,” he said.

Curry County Manager Lance Pyle said the county commission has already begun planning for the increase by permitting the county apply for a grant for three additional sheriffs deputies.

Pyle said Curry and Roosevelt counties, Clovis and Portales joined together to work on a regional growth plan.

Consultant Keystone International is planning to finish the growth plan at the end of March. Pyle said both cities and counties will be holding public hearings in April on how to handle growth.

Cost of adding personnel:

$48,000 -50,000 per police officer and fire fighter per year, including full health benefits