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.
More than 450 state workers who answer to Gov. Bill Richardson will take a 2-percent pay cut in March. The governor also plans to close his Albuquerque and Las Cruces offices.
That news was in a release just issued outlining how the governor is cutting back in response to the state’s financial difficulties.
“I highlighted the need for fiscal restraint in my State of the State address, and that means tough decisions must be made to balance the budget,” Richardson said in the release. “So, we are implementing additional cuts in the Governor’s Office and among appointed employees in order to squeeze as much savings as possible without cutting services to the public.”
The release goes on to list the ways the governor’s office and state government are cutting back.
They are:
Temporary 2-percent pay cut for all exempt employees under his authority, including those in the Governor’s Office
· About 470 exempt, or appointed, employees under the Governor’s authority will have their salaries reduced by 2 percent, beginning in March. The pay cut would be re-evaluated at the end of the 2010 budget year.
Close Governor’s Albuquerque and Las Cruces Offices
The Las Cruces office will be closed and the employee in that office will utilize existing space at another state agency.
The leased space in Albuquerque will be returned to the owner of the property to lease to another tenant. The Governor will utilize existing state agency offices for business when he is in Albuquerque.Reduce Governor’s security by 14 percent
· The Governor’s Security detail, which by law is provided by the New Mexico State Police, will be reduced by 14 percent.
4. Cut Governor’s Contingency Fund by 10 percent
· This fund is used by the Governor to hold public events at the Governor’s Residence.
5. Limit use of state aircraft
· The Governor’s Office will limit its use of the state aircraft and require state agencies to do the same.
Governor Richardson also announced an expansion of several cost-saving measures put into place in recent months, including:
Statewide hiring freeze to continue through June 30, 2010
Only critical hiring will be allowed
Salaries will remain frozen through June 30, 2010
Freeze applies to general salary increases
Keep 1,000 positions, or 5 percent of the state workforce, vacant through June 30, 2010.
Suspend the practice of compensatory time for exempt employees
Continue the freeze on non-essential overtime for classified employees through June 30, 2010
Suspend the practice of allowing exempt employees to receive a buyout for unused annual leave each year.
Continue to reduce expenses related to travel, equipment, supplies and furniture by and require quarterly reports on savings by some agencies.
Task the new Green Cabinet with implementing and enforcing energy conservation and efficiency strategies across government – targeting a $2 million savings.
Freeze upward reclassification of positions through June 30, 2010.
