Photo: Captain Budd Christman, NOAA Corps · Public domainSunland Park spent less per resident in 2022 than 95% of similar cities
Sunland Park’s city government spent $10.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $601 per resident. Water and other utilities ($357,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Sunland Park is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$202 per resident in 2022: less than 95% of them
Sunland Park’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($202 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 21 New Mexico cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,388, and the middle half spent $1,037–$1,690. Sunland Park spent less than 95% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
New Mexico cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Sunland Park itself left out).
About $601 per resident a year, or $1.65 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: administration & buildings, at 53%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 180% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Sunland Park reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $202 · 2024: $601. Per resident it went from $202 to $601 (up 198%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 18,449 to 17,414.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $1,695 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.79% of the home’s value, vs 0.70% across New Mexico.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Sunland Park’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Sunland Park’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Sunland Park →
Who’s in charge in Sunland Park
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
One full-time city employee for every 210 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (17,414).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Gadsden Independent Schools
Sunland Park’s K–12 school district, shared with Anthony. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $19,867 per pupil, $10,481 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
New Mexico districts overall: 17% local, 64% state, 20% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Sunland Park’s votes are counted by county
New Mexico reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Sunland Park alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Doña Ana County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat54.6%45,937 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican44.7%37,594 votesOthers: 0.7% (578 votes).
Most votes in Doña Ana County: Kamala D Harris
New Mexico: Harris 51.9%, Trump 45.9%
100% of Sunland Park lies in Doña Ana County. Every 2024 race in Doña Ana County is on the county’s page.
Doña Ana County’s 2024 results →Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Sunland Park.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilLocal officials aren’t on record yet.
- 2New Mexico HouseState representatives
- 3New Mexico SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of New Mexico
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Sunland Park compares with the towns next door
Sunland Park spent $202 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Sunland Park | $202 | $1,695 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Sunland Park’s government
Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.
Questions about Sunland Park’s government
How much does Sunland Park spend per resident?
About $601 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $202 was less than 95% of 21 New Mexico cities of 10,000–24,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Sunland Park?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,695 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.79% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.70% across New Mexico. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the city’s assessor.
Who runs Sunland Park’s government?
We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Sunland Park yet.
How did Sunland Park vote in 2024?
New Mexico counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Sunland Park alone. Doña Ana County, where 100% of Sunland Park lies, voted Harris 54.6%, Trump 44.7% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Sunland Park?
83 full-time and 7 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $371,039 (about $4.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Sunland Park in the state legislature?
Sunland Park is split among 2 State Senate districts, so your address decides. The New Mexico Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Sunland Park’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →