I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
By a vote of 66-0, the House just passed legislation that would trim more than $100 million from state government to help balance this year’s $6 billion budget.
Much of the trimming will be done at state agencies. And all agencies aren’t created equal in the pruning. A legislative report shows that some agencies will see cuts of up to 5 percent while other departments will endure cuts as low as 1.4 percent.
Each agency will decide how to trim its own budget, state lawmakers said.
The legislation that passed the House is one of four pieces of bills the Legislature is considering to correct this year’s shortfall, which has been estimated at around $450 million.
The other pieces of legislation would alternately move the date by which corporations must make a quarterly payment to the state this year; transfer money from various state funds to the state’s main account (the general fund), and take money from stalled brick-and-mortar projects across the state.
Here is a rundown of state agencies and how they would be affected by the legislation that passed the House today.
According to a legislative report, the cuts are:
– 5.0 percent – State Personnel Board, Public Employee Labor Relations Board, Regulation and
Licensing Department, Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, State
Engineer and Department of Environment
– 3.9 percent – Economic Development Department
– 3.8 percent – Public Education Department
– 3.0 percent – Taxation and Revenue Department, Cultural Affairs Department, Aging and Long-
Term Services Department
– 2.4 percent – Veterans’ Services Department
– 2.2 percent – Public Defender Department
– 2.1 percent – Workforce Solutions Department
– 1.9 percent – Corrections Department, Department of Public Safety
– 1.8 percent – Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
– 1.6 percent – Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
– 1.4 percent – District Courts and related agencies
– 2.5 percent – All other agencies.
