Clovis Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board Allocates Funds to Seven Applicants on September 8, 2026

The Clovis Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board met at 5:30 PM on September 8, 2026, at the North Annex, 701 N. Main, Clovis, New Mexico. The board approved the July 14, 2026 minutes, heard seven requests for Lodger’s Tax Fund support, and approved $38,500 in new allocations while preserving funds for later fiscal-year requests.

Roll Call and Minutes

• Present: Chair Thomas Martin, Tasha Padilla, Jonathan Nelson, Hugo Hernandez, Alfred Bryant, and Mayor Pro Tem Tim Garza. The board welcomed new member Hugo Hernandez and new staff member Charlie.
• The board approved the July 14, 2026 minutes.

Lodger’s Tax Funding Requests

• The first two requests were described as rollovers from the previous meeting.
• Clovis Christmas Parade — Lisa and Paul described the parade as the longest-running and largest free family event in Clovis, with records back to 1913 and attendance of 14,000 to 20,000. Paul said it is the largest lighted parade in New Mexico and that funding would be used to advertise it statewide. Lisa cited Placer AI data showing 272 hotel room check-ins directly tied to last year’s parade and a record 100 floats.
• Downtown Block Party / Greater Blocks Party — Lisa and Paul proposed a new downtown evening block party to showcase the completed downtown revitalization, with possible dates October 23 or November 6, and with the goal of attracting overnight visitors. Paul said New Mexico Main Street and the governor’s office had expressed interest in attending.
• High Plains Junior Rodeo — Linda requested funding for two upcoming rodeo events in November and February. She said the rodeo is family-oriented, with competitors roughly ages 3 to 19, 32 individuals staying in hotel rooms, and additional rooms rented for judges and timers. She described logoed jackets, saddles, hay bags, and buckles as advertising. The board noted that $10,000 of a $30,000 request had been awarded in May for the July finals.
• Little Ballers Inc. — Jalen Gallegos requested support for the Wildcat Triple Threat 3v3 basketball tournament on November 7–8, 2026, and the Second Annual Winter Games flag football tournament on December 5–6, 2026. He projected out-of-town teams from Eastern New Mexico and West Texas, dozens of hotel nights, and restaurant spending, and described branded jerseys, banners, rings, and social media promotion. The basketball request was adjusted from $8,000 to $6,500 after ineligible expenses for rental and referees were removed.
• Black Pearl Boxing Halloween Brawl — A representative presented a two-day boxing event on October 17–18 with 30 bouts each day, Halloween costume contests, and out-of-town hotel stays.
• Clovis Community College Cultural Art Series — Nikki requested marketing funds for two performances: Batakanga on October 17 and Cassette’s "Movement for Mercy" on November 7, both at Marshall Auditorium. Nikki said the November performance highlights teen mental health and juvenile justice themes, and the funding would support targeted advertising. She noted the September 26 show had already been funded.
• Clovis/Chamber Community Profile and Membership Directory — Kim requested support for the 2027 community profile and membership directory, distributed to newcomers, conventions, and hotels, highlighting business, education, healthcare, recreation, and quality of life.

Finance Report

• Mr. Holwall reported that the fiscal year-end cash balance was about $238,629, with about $228,000 carried over for previously awarded projects, leaving roughly $10,000 to start the year.
• The board budgeted about $290,000 for awards for the year; actual Lodger’s Tax revenue for the first two months was about $17,000 above budget.
• Total available for distribution was about $318,000. After the July meeting awarded $92,972, the fund balance was $225,229.66, leaving about $45,000 for each remaining bi-monthly meeting.
• Requests this evening totaled $87,950, later corrected to $86,450 after removing the ineligible Little Ballers expenses.

Board Deliberation

• Board members discussed being fiscally responsible and preserving funds for larger events later in the year, referencing prior allocation ranges of roughly 25 to 30 percent in some meetings.
• They agreed that Lodger’s Tax funds could not pay for rental or referees, so the Little Ballers request was reduced and allocated $4,000 to each of its two events.
• A member also raised the long-term goal of reducing events’ reliance on Lodger’s Tax funding.
• The board settled on $5,000 for the Christmas Parade, $3,000 for the Greater Blocks Party, $10,000 for High Plains Junior Rodeo, $3,500 for Black Pearl Boxing, $4,000 for the Community College Cultural Art Series, and $5,000 for the Chamber Community Profile.

Key Outcomes

• A motion by Tasha Padilla, seconded by Alfred (Freddie) Bryant, to approve the funding recommendations carried.
• Approved new allocations:
  • Clovis Christmas Parade: $5,000
  • Downtown/Greater Blocks Party: $3,000
  • High Plains Junior Rodeo: $10,000
  • Little Ballers Wildcat Triple Threat basketball tournament: $4,000
  • Little Ballers Winter Games flag football tournament: $4,000
  • Black Pearl Halloween Brawl: $3,500
  • Clovis Community College Cultural Art Series: $4,000
  • Clovis/Chamber Community Profile: $5,000
• Total new allocations: $38,500.
• The city commission meeting is September 17, with approval emails going out September 18; no expenditures may occur before that date.
• The next Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board meeting is November 10, 2026, at 5:30 PM.