Empowering taxpayers in Eddy and Chaves counties
Welcome to the Eddy/Chaves County Taxpayers Coalition, your non-partisan advocate for fiscal transparency and public safety. We're dedicated to ensuring that your tax dollars are used efficiently and effectively to benefit our community. Join us in our mission to hold local government accountable and build a safer, more prosperous future for all.
Our commitment
The Eddy/Chaves County Taxpayers Coalition is committed to serving as a vigilant civilian audit body, meticulously monitoring the allocation of local tax revenues. We focus on addressing infrastructure neglect and combating the waste of county resources to ensure that the wealth generated in the Permian Basin is reinvested into the safety and development of our local community.
Key initiatives
We're focused on three core initiatives to promote fiscal responsibility and public safety:
- Public Accountability: Documenting instances of government waste.
- Citizen Reporting: Providing a secure portal for reporting NMSA violations.
- Data Transparency: Educating the public on local mill rates and revenue exports.
Waste tracker
Explore documented instances of government waste and mismanagement in Eddy and Chaves counties.
Report an issue
Report NMSA violations or hazardous infrastructure anonymously and securely.
Local tax data
Access comprehensive data on local mill rates, revenue exports, and tax allocation.
About us
The Eddy/Chaves County Taxpayers Coalition is a non-partisan oversight organization representing local business owners and residents dedicated to fiscal transparency and public safety. We serve as a civilian audit body that monitors the allocation of local tax revenues, specifically focusing on infrastructure neglect and the waste of county resources.
"The Huctenson Correspondence."
"We don't deal in rumors. We deal in receipts. Below is the full professional record of our attempt to work with Sheriff Mike Huctenson—and the silence that forced our move to public oversight."
The Paper Trail: Formal Correspondence with Sheriff Hutchinson
Note: The following is a redacted transcript of the original email thread between the Eddy/Chaves Taxpayer Coalition and the Eddy County Sheriff's Office. This digital record serves as proof of our attempt to seek accountability through official channels prior to the launch of this public audit.
[INTERNAL RECORD: EMAIL THREAD ID #CAKQgTPDx]
Subject: FINAL NOTICE: Misuse of Public Funds, Breach of Oath, and Civil Rights Notice
Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2026 00:51:49 -0700
From: ████████████ <██████████████████@gmail.com>
To: mhutchinson@co.eddy.nm.us
Cc: ecarlsonservices@gmail.com, hklein@co.eddy.nm.us, ptroost@co.eddy.nm.us, scordova@co.eddy.nm.us, bo@sboilfield.com
TO: Sheriff Matthew Hutchinson, Eddy County Sheriff's Office
FROM: ████████████ (Artesia Business Owner) & The Eddy/Chaves County Taxpayer Coalition
DATE: January 2, 2026
Sheriff Hutchinson,
I am writing to you as a lifelong resident and business owner in Artesia. I represent a coalition of five other regional business owners and over one hundred private investors. We are the stakeholders who fund your department's fleet and fuel.
In your campaign, you promised to be a "Servant Leader" and a "Good Steward" of our resources. Currently, your department is failing that mission. The "Roswell Commuters"—deputies living in Chaves County while operating Eddy County property—are treating taxpayer-funded units like personal perks.
THE COALITION'S GRIEVANCES:
-
Fiscal Mismanagement: Driving $100,000 Tahoes at high speeds for long-distance personal commutes is a gross misuse of capital. You are burning taxpayer fuel and "aging out" expensive vehicles years before their time.
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Contempt for State Law: Your deputies consistently violate NMSA § 66-7-308 (The Left Lane Law) and exceed speed limits without emergency justification. This "above the law" attitude is a slap in the face to every licensed driver in New Mexico.
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Professional Negligence: We have documented deputies loitering, sleeping on the clock, and performing traffic stops in an inconsiderate manner. This is not the "Protection and Service" we pay for.
LEGAL NOTICE REGARDING RETALIATION (NMSA § 41-4A-1): Any attempt by your deputies or "guard dogs" to harass, intimidate, or target me, my family, or my business interests will be met with immediate legal action. Under the New Mexico Civil Rights Act, qualified immunity is not a defense. Your department will be held vicariously liable for any deputy who attempts to retaliate against a citizen for reporting gross misconduct.
NOTICE OF INTENT TO ESCALATE: If I do not see an immediate correction in the conduct of these deputies, our coalition will launch a public awareness campaign. We are prepared to fund Static Vinyl Billboards along the 285 corridor (Artesia and Carlsbad) and Full-Page Print Ads in the local papers. We will also be submitting our data logs of unit numbers and violations to the New Mexico State Police and the Governor.
Respectfully,
████████████
Artesia Business Owner
On behalf of the Eddy/Chaves County Taxpayer Coalition
From: Matt Hutchinson mhutchinson@co.eddy.nm.us
Date: Fri, Jan 2, 2026 at 8:34 AM
Subject: Re: FINAL NOTICE: Misuse of Public Funds, Breach of Oath, and Civil Rights Notice
To: ████████████ <██████████████████@gmail.com>
Mr. ████████,
Good morning and Happy New Year. I have received and reviewed your email.
I was curious if you were available for either a phone call or an in-person meeting to discuss these issues that you have with the Eddy County Sheriff's Office. I am confident that after this meeting we can address your concerns.
Feel free to contact me anytime and I look forward to this meeting.
Respectfully,
Sheriff Matthew T. Hutchinson Eddy County Sheriff
575-███-████ / Cell-575-███-████
From: ████████████ <██████████████████@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jan 2, 2026 at 9:36 AM
Subject: Re: FINAL NOTICE: Misuse of Public Funds, Breach of Oath, and Civil Rights Notice
To: Matt Hutchinson mhutchinson@co.eddy.nm.us
Sheriff Hutchinson,
Thank you for the quick response and the New Year's wishes. I appreciate your willingness to discuss these matters. Because I am representing a coalition of local business owners and over one hundred concerned taxpayers, I would like to schedule a formal meeting rather than a phone call. I will be bringing two other members of the coalition with me to ensure our collective concerns are addressed accurately.
Please let me know a date and time next week that works for you at the Artesia sub-office.
We would like to discuss the specific steps the department will take regarding out-of-county vehicle use, the "Left Lane" violations on Hwy 285, and the fiscal oversight of fuel consumption.
I look forward to a productive resolution.
Respectfully,
████████████
From: Matt Hutchinson mhutchinson@co.eddy.nm.us
Date: Fri, Jan 2, 2026 at 9:42 AM
Subject: Re: FINAL NOTICE: Misuse of Public Funds, Breach of Oath, and Civil Rights Notice
To: ████████████ <██████████████████@gmail.com>
Will do.
Commissioner James "Bo" Bowen would like to attend as well.
Sheriff Hutchinson Sent from Outlook for iOS
THE AFTERMATH
STATUS: MEETING GHOSTED BY OFFICIALS.
RESULT: DIRECT ESCALATION TO PUBLIC AUDIT.
Despite the Sheriff’s explicit agreement to meet and include Commissioner Bowen, no meeting was ever scheduled by their offices. Their silence is their answer. The data on this website is now the only channel of communication we have left.
Voices for transparency
Read stories and insights from community members and our team as we work together towards a more accountable and transparent local government.
"The Eddy/Chaves County Taxpayers Coalition has been instrumental in bringing critical issues to light. Their dedication to transparency is commendable."
Benjamin Wood
"I am impressed with the coalition's efforts to educate the public on local tax data. It's empowering to have access to this information."
Emma Thompson
"The citizen reporting portal is a game-changer. It provides a secure way to report issues and hold our local government accountable."
Oliver Hartman
Contact us
Location
Artesia, New Mexico, United States