The idea is 700. The state has been going route of idea many counties/ locals jumping on once the conventional 700 sites are built in the districts and a trs built with added sites, from that point sites will be added and trunking will come which by that time if it all falls into place will be phase 2 equipment. The conventional end obviously is phase 1. With monies being the way they are I don't see much happening any time in near future specially with locals other then the 700 conventional sites being installed. Some have had interest in joining a statewide Trs paying user fees and equipment costs saving them from building a system themself but many have recently migrated to voted vhf systems which were installed by advanced communications. Some spending a large chunk to get the vhf voting systems going.
The state vhf will remain so I wouldn't drop them once a district starts using the 700 conventional. Eventually it will be dual banded equipment vhf/700, used where possible for the 700 and future trs when it eventually gets built out.
Also to be on the system proposed trs is corrections, nmdot, other state entities which will have respective talkgroups or conventional use.
I will add a few have upgraded repeaters, equipment to new but went routes which they could afford or be approved for locally, which analog is those areas is in use but the equipment does nxdn, dmr. So this throws a wrench in all staying on same page. The state is still attempting to form a communications committee to draft guidelines and type of equipment. So as you can see this may mean a double hit on tax payers in areas who couldn't afford or went for lower cost equipment. While analog works if they chose to be digital they would be in a different format or maintain analog end which a couple can and can use the old frequencies in analog so I wouldn't drop those out of the DB. Not getting strayed off a couple chose the route they did due to eavesdropping issues. Least is what I was told with local elements they deal with and have had problems with which they chose th dark side. Others have expressed non publicly they want to keep as much in clear as possible for ease of interop and outside agencies which we all know in NM numerous entities work together, NPS, Forestry, Federal, Military, outside fire agencies and border towns with neighboring states have aide at times for crashes and fires in rural areas.
I should also throw in all the voting vhf sites were spaced with future studies in the towns/cities who had advanced install them and do the research for future use of trunking p25 vhf or 7/800. Some are planning to add more voting sites down road when new monies for fiscal years come, couple already adding voting sites which are spaced for future uparading to trunking phase 1/2.