N.M. Stat. § 73-9-22
Directors certify amounts needed; assessment; no funds
to be transferred.
It shall be the duty of the board of directors of the district, on or before September
first of each year, to determine the amount of money required to meet the maintenance,
operating and current expenses of the district for the ensuing fiscal year, and such
additional sums as may be necessary to meet any deficiency for payment of
maintenance or operation expenses theretofore incurred, and to certify the same to the
board of county commissioners. Such certificate shall specify the sum required for each
of the purposes therein mentioned. The county treasurer shall distribute the proceeds of
the ad valorem taxes levied by the county commissioners under this act for the purpose
of paying and retiring outstanding bonds and interest coupons, to the credit of a fund to
be known as "bond fund" and shall distribute the proceeds of the specific taxes levied
on request of the board of directors of said district through their budget for maintenance,
operation and current expenses, to a separate fund, established and maintained for said
last-mentioned purposes.
It shall be unlawful to transfer any money from either the bond fund or the
maintenance, operation and current expense fund, or to use the money therein for any
other purpose, so long as any obligations of the district which should be paid out of such
funds, respectively, remain unpaid.
The county treasurer is authorized to pay out of said bond fund any matured bond or
coupon of the district, upon presentation of said bond, coupon or coupons, for that
purpose, and without warrant from the board of directors of said district, and to pay out
of the maintenance, operation and current expense fund or funds, any water charges or
rentals due by the district and unpaid without warrant signed by the president and
secretary of the district, in any case where the district officers neglect or refuse to issue
such warrant in time to meet such obligations when due.