A former New Mexico Oil and Gas Association president hired as city manager in a troubled New Mexico border city has been given an extension. Sunland Park city council recently voted to keep Bob Gallagher until December. He signed a 6 month contract as the interim city manager in February following a heated meeting.
Sunland Park had been without a full-time city manager for a year until Gallagher's hiring.
Nearly 40 percent of people live below the poverty line in the city, where the main source of income comes from the Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.
Gallagher says the city has recovered from budget problems and is ending the current fiscal year with about $5 million in cash reserves.
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