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SOCORRO– The city of Socorro missed its budget deadline, a mistake which will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, city leaderssaid.

Now it appears residents’tax dollars will be used to partially bail the city out. WhenABC-7 first broke the story on this budget problem,it was well-known thatthe shortfall would likely affect road projects.

On Monday, Socorro Mayor Trini Lopez asked the county commissionersif they would enter into an agreement wherebycounty crews and equipment would be used to pave the one mile long Old Hueco Tanks Road from Interstate 10 and Eastlake Boulevardto North Loop.

“This might be one of the projects that’s going tobe affected.This and every other project in Socorro,” Lopez said.

Lopez said the project should cost $100,000 and would finally create a paved surface over the dirt and loose gravel that drivers have endured for years.

One driver toldABC-7 he and his students at the neighboringEl Paso CommunityCollegecampus depend on this road to get to class and avoid traffic on Horizon Boulevard, but they don’t like the toll it takes on their cars.

“It’s bumpy and it’s dusty and there’s not potholes, but craters. And at any one time your car could just go into a whole,” said EPCC student Henry Velasquez.

Commissioners said Monday they would draw up an interlocal agreement and have it ready by their meeting Monday, Dec. 3.

The county will require the city of Socorro to pay back the$100,000. Socorro leaders are still working on the specifics of that payment plan.