Nearly $5 million to create a fulltime fire department for Eddy County was part of an overall spending plan for fiscal year 2023 approved May 3 by Eddy County’s Board of County Commissioners. Commissioners agreed to hire 21 new personnel for Eddy County Fire and Rescue (ECFR) as part of a $158 million interim budget for the upcoming fiscal year that starts July 1. Budget cycles in Eddy County start July 1 and end on June 30. Eddy County’s interim budget was due to the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration Local Government Division by June 1, read county commission documents. Eddy County Manager Allen Davis said the $5 million increase for new ECFR employees was important for public safety. ECFR Chief Joshua Mack said heavy reliance from the City of Carlsbad and City of Artesia Fire Departments and emergency medical services (EMS) for a majority of emergency calls prompted an evaluation of fire services in the County.