N.M. Stat. § 3-7-10
Annexation; arbitration; chairman; meetings; power of
board; final determination.
A. After the seven members of the board of arbitration have been selected, they
shall elect a chairman and hold meetings upon call of the chairman. The board of
arbitration shall determine if the benefits of the government of the municipality are or
can be available within a reasonable time to the territory proposed to be annexed and
may make such investigation as it may deem advisable in order to obtain information
and data as to the availability of the benefits of the municipal government and may
require the governing body of the municipality to furnish to it any records of the
municipality pertaining thereto. The cost of such investigation shall be paid by the
municipality.
B. Determination by a majority of the seven members of the board of arbitration
shall be final. If a majority of the members of the board of arbitration determine that the
territory should not be annexed, the governing body of the municipality shall not
proceed further nor shall it pass any other resolution seeking to annex the territory for a
period of two years. If a majority of the members of the board of arbitration determine
that the territory or a part thereof should be annexed to the municipality, it shall certify
over the signatures of the members of the board of arbitration who have made the
determination to the clerk of the municipality, the clerk of the county, the secretary of
finance and administration and the secretary of taxation and revenue.
C. Thereafter, the annexation shall be deemed complete as to the territory certified
as proper to be annexed. The municipality to which the annexation is made shall pass
an ordinance, not inconsistent with law, which will effectuate the terms of the
annexation. The territory so annexed shall be governed as part of the municipality and
the governing body of the municipality shall promptly proceed to make the benefits of
the government of the municipality available to the territory so annexed within a
reasonable time.
D. The final determination of the board of arbitration shall be certified not more than
sixty days after the selection of the seventh member.