Holy Cross Medical Center CEO James Kiser provides an update on the progress of the new Medical Office Complex planned for the Holy Cross campus on Weimer Road.
Video Transcript:
Hi, I’m James Kiser, CEO of Holy Cross Medical Center.
I wanted to share some information given what was in the paper last Thursday regarding the state calling back $22.5 million. I was aware of it beforehand, but as you all know, we’ve worked hard with the support of Senator Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales. He’s helped us secure funding over the past three legislative sessions for a new medical office complex. Our Community Health Needs Assessment identified access to primary care and urgent care as the number one healthcare need in our community.
He told us to come see him, and during the 2024 legislative session, he secured $15 million for Phase One of a medical office building that would house primary care and urgent care.
Since then, in 2025, he was able to secure an additional $7.5 million, which provided an extension on that initial $15 million. Then, during the 2026 legislative session, he secured another $12 million for the so-called second building, Phase Two, which would bring the project to nearly 40,000 square feet of medical office space on the Holy Cross campus.
The way the funding works is that it comes through the state’s General Fund in House Bill 2, with the county serving as the fiscal agent. So everything has to flow through the county.
We knew those funds had to be encumbered quickly, so our Holy Cross Board allocated $1.5 million for architectural design before the funds even became available on July 1, 2024, so we would not miss a deadline. The funds had to be spent by the following legislative session in January. A deadline for an extension was missed, and those funds were not spent.
Long story short, we have to come together—the Town, the County, and Holy Cross. We have to pursue getting these funds reappropriated during the next legislative session. There is a remote chance there may be a special session called by the Governor this year, and if that happens, we will pursue that opportunity as well. I have spoken with the Senator regarding that.
The good news is that we do have access to the $12 million appropriated during this last session, so we are moving forward with the first building. We have received formal approval from the New Mexico Health Care Authority. We had hoped to hold a groundbreaking ceremony this Thursday, July 9, but the Senator was unable to attend, and he has been paramount in making this project possible.
As soon as his schedule allows, we will hold the ceremony. Hopefully—and I’ve been saying this for a few years now—we’ll be breaking ground soon, ideally next month in August.
Again, to summarize, we are moving forward with the $12 million and the initial building for primary care and urgent care. We look forward to the teamwork between the Town of Taos, Taos County, and Holy Cross to make this vision a reality. With the guidance of Senator Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales, we are going to work diligently during the next legislative session with the Governor and her staff to seek reappropriation of the $22.5 million so we can complete the project as intended, with approximately 40,000 square feet of new medical office space.
Thanks for all that you do. Stay safe.