New City Manager Andy Moralez estimated the city's deficit to be about $700,000 when he first stepped into the city manager office on Oct. 22.

"We're making the changes that we need to regarding the budget. That's by far the biggest issue that we have to achieve," said Moralez.

Moralez told KFOX 14 those changes include a budget freeze and hiring freeze, except for essential personnel, sharing services with Dona Ana County and getting oversight and guidance from New Mexico, along with increasing revenue streams.

One of the biggest sources of revenue was the city's Motor Vehicle Division. The city lost the right to issue vehicle titles when it failed to meet the state's requirements.

"We've hired a good MVD director that's ethical and is customer service oriented," said Moralez.

Moralez said he is also working on a pedestrian port-of-entry in Sunland Park, which could bring in more revenue.

He believed he can balance the budget, and he said he's made other improvements in the city, including a response system for issues residents have.

"We do have a system now in the city of Sunland Park so we can get them [issues] addressed efficiently and quickly," said Moralez.

He also pointed to a payment center that will hopefully be operational by the end of the week.

"The people from Sunland Park can go to one place to pay their electric bill, their gas bill, water bill, any type of building permits and all this stuff," he said.

It's all part of what Moralez believes will be a more open, productive and transparent Sunland Park city government.

"There's 15,000 people here that depend on their government and they should be able to have the confidence in their government to go in and get stuff addressed," said Moralez.

Moralez is getting paid a yearly salary of $95,000, and previously worked as the director of the New Mexico Border Authority.

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