CONTACTS
Christine Trujillo, President (c) 239-0871, cvtrujil@msn.com
Tim Crone, VP Political Action Committee (c) 505-927-5284, tcrone@cybermesa.com
nm.aft.org

State Lawmakers Can Restore $30 Student Cut
Roll Back Tax Cuts for Wealthiest, Close Corporate Tax Loopholes

ALBUQUERQUE— AFT New Mexico, which represents 9,000 education employees from cooks to custodians, issued the following statement in response to calls for a special legislative session to address another state budget tax revenue shortfall of $433 million:

“State lawmakers can restore the $30 they cut from the per-student unit funding value if they will make better choices for funding stronger public schools.”

BETTER CHOICES FOR FUNDING STRONGER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
1. Roll back state income tax cuts for wealthiest New Mexicans
2. Close tax loopholes for big out-of-state corporations
3. Use New Mexico’s cash reserves, valued at 12 percent of the state budget
4. Use President Obama’s $3 billion stimulus for New Mexico
5. Tap New Mexico’s $3 billion Severance Tax Fund
6. Tap New Mexico’s $7 billion Permanent School Fund
7. Repeal House Bill 854

“Beginning in 2003, when New Mexico had budget surpluses, lawmakers started cutting state income taxes for the wealthiest New Mexicans and allowing big out-of-state corporations to dodge taxes. Revenues generated by these taxes are used by lawmakers to fund our public schools. As these tax cuts took full effect and energy prices collapsed, revenues decreased, budget surpluses disappeared and deficits happened.”

“In response to a budget deficit of $500 million earlier this year, lawmakers made the choice to cut almost $30 ($29.68) from the 2009/2010 per-student unit funding value. This $30 cut translates into an 8 percent loss to New Mexico’s education budget, about $800 million less for students, faculty and staff.”

“This $30 cut will harm efforts to improve our students’ education at a time when they need more help.”

“If lawmakers will roll back tax cuts for the wealthiest New Mexicans, close big out-of-state corporate tax loopholes, and use the additional revenues to restore education cuts, we can avoid devastating consequences.”

“For example, districts are currently unable to fill vacancies. Class sizes and workloads are increasing. Individualized instruction won’t be available for most students. Today, there are voluntary furloughs and involuntary transfers of employees happening.”

“Some districts are proposing a shortened school week because lawmakers were unable to provide enough money to pay higher electricity costs, heating costs, and higher liability insurance costs. Districts such as Jemez Mtn. are open 4 days a week.”

“Alamogordo’s Middle School and Rolling Hills Elementary School, as well as many other smaller school districts, will need emergency funding to open their doors later this month, and keep them open the entire school year.”

“Finally, because lawmakers didn’t have enough revenues to sufficiently fund New Mexico’s schools, they also passed House Bill 854.”

“HB 854 increases education employees’ retirement deductions. So, employees will take home smaller paychecks beginning later this month. They will have $84 million less money to spend over the next two years, which will also hurt New Mexico’s small businesses.”

###

Note: if you are unable to reach President Trujillo or VP Crone, call Tiffany Fiser at 489-3820 or John Ingram at 505-217-8020 and they will help you make contact.

CONTACTS
Christine Trujillo, President (c) 239-0871, cvtrujil@msn.com
Tim Crone, VP Political Action Committee (c) 505-927-5284, tcrone@cybermesa.com
nm.aft.org

State Lawmakers Can Restore $30 Student Cut
Roll Back Tax Cuts for Wealthiest, Close Corporate Tax Loopholes

ALBUQUERQUE— AFT New Mexico, which represents 9,000 education employees from cooks to custodians, issued the following statement in response to calls for a special legislative session to address another state budget tax revenue shortfall of $433 million:

“State lawmakers can restore the $30 they cut from the per-student unit funding value if they will make better choices for funding stronger public schools.”

BETTER CHOICES FOR FUNDING STRONGER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
1. Roll back state income tax cuts for wealthiest New Mexicans
2. Close tax loopholes for big out-of-state corporations
3. Use New Mexico’s cash reserves, valued at 12 percent of the state budget
4. Use President Obama’s $3 billion stimulus for New Mexico
5. Tap New Mexico’s $3 billion Severance Tax Fund
6. Tap New Mexico’s $7 billion Permanent School Fund
7. Repeal House Bill 854

“Beginning in 2003, when New Mexico had budget surpluses, lawmakers started cutting state income taxes for the wealthiest New Mexicans and allowing big out-of-state corporations to dodge taxes. Revenues generated by these taxes are used by lawmakers to fund our public schools. As these tax cuts took full effect and energy prices collapsed, revenues decreased, budget surpluses disappeared and deficits happened.”

“In response to a budget deficit of $500 million earlier this year, lawmakers made the choice to cut almost $30 ($29.68) from the 2009/2010 per-student unit funding value. This $30 cut translates into an 8 percent loss to New Mexico’s education budget, about $800 million less for students, faculty and staff.”

“This $30 cut will harm efforts to improve our students’ education at a time when they need more help.”

“If lawmakers will roll back tax cuts for the wealthiest New Mexicans, close big out-of-state corporate tax loopholes, and use the additional revenues to restore education cuts, we can avoid devastating consequences.”

“For example, districts are currently unable to fill vacancies. Class sizes and workloads are increasing. Individualized instruction won’t be available for most students. Today, there are voluntary furloughs and involuntary transfers of employees happening.”

“Some districts are proposing a shortened school week because lawmakers were unable to provide enough money to pay higher electricity costs, heating costs, and higher liability insurance costs. Districts such as Jemez Mtn. are open 4 days a week.”

“Alamogordo’s Middle School and Rolling Hills Elementary School, as well as many other smaller school districts, will need emergency funding to open their doors later this month, and keep them open the entire school year.”

“Finally, because lawmakers didn’t have enough revenues to sufficiently fund New Mexico’s schools, they also passed House Bill 854.”

“HB 854 increases education employees’ retirement deductions. So, employees will take home smaller paychecks beginning later this month. They will have $84 million less money to spend over the next two years, which will also hurt New Mexico’s small businesses.”

###

Note: if you are unable to reach President Trujillo or VP Crone, call Tiffany Fiser at 489-3820 or John Ingram at 505-217-8020 and they will help you make contact.

CONTACTS
Christine Trujillo, President (c) 239-0871, cvtrujil@msn.com
Tim Crone, VP Political Action Committee (c) 505-927-5284, tcrone@cybermesa.com
nm.aft.org

State Lawmakers Can Restore $30 Student Cut
Roll Back Tax Cuts for Wealthiest, Close Corporate Tax Loopholes

ALBUQUERQUE— AFT New Mexico, which represents 9,000 education employees from cooks to custodians, issued the following statement in response to calls for a special legislative session to address another state budget tax revenue shortfall of $433 million:

“State lawmakers can restore the $30 they cut from the per-student unit funding value if they will make better choices for funding stronger public schools.”

BETTER CHOICES FOR FUNDING STRONGER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
1. Roll back state income tax cuts for wealthiest New Mexicans
2. Close tax loopholes for big out-of-state corporations
3. Use New Mexico’s cash reserves, valued at 12 percent of the state budget
4. Use President Obama’s $3 billion stimulus for New Mexico
5. Tap New Mexico’s $3 billion Severance Tax Fund
6. Tap New Mexico’s $7 billion Permanent School Fund
7. Repeal House Bill 854

“Beginning in 2003, when New Mexico had budget surpluses, lawmakers started cutting state income taxes for the wealthiest New Mexicans and allowing big out-of-state corporations to dodge taxes. Revenues generated by these taxes are used by lawmakers to fund our public schools. As these tax cuts took full effect and energy prices collapsed, revenues decreased, budget surpluses disappeared and deficits happened.”

“In response to a budget deficit of $500 million earlier this year, lawmakers made the choice to cut almost $30 ($29.68) from the 2009/2010 per-student unit funding value. This $30 cut translates into an 8 percent loss to New Mexico’s education budget, about $800 million less for students, faculty and staff.”

“This $30 cut will harm efforts to improve our students’ education at a time when they need more help.”

“If lawmakers will roll back tax cuts for the wealthiest New Mexicans, close big out-of-state corporate tax loopholes, and use the additional revenues to restore education cuts, we can avoid devastating consequences.”

“For example, districts are currently unable to fill vacancies. Class sizes and workloads are increasing. Individualized instruction won’t be available for most students. Today, there are voluntary furloughs and involuntary transfers of employees happening.”

“Some districts are proposing a shortened school week because lawmakers were unable to provide enough money to pay higher electricity costs, heating costs, and higher liability insurance costs. Districts such as Jemez Mtn. are open 4 days a week.”

“Alamogordo’s Middle School and Rolling Hills Elementary School, as well as many other smaller school districts, will need emergency funding to open their doors later this month, and keep them open the entire school year.”

“Finally, because lawmakers didn’t have enough revenues to sufficiently fund New Mexico’s schools, they also passed House Bill 854.”

“HB 854 increases education employees’ retirement deductions. So, employees will take home smaller paychecks beginning later this month. They will have $84 million less money to spend over the next two years, which will also hurt New Mexico’s small businesses.”

###

Note: if you are unable to reach President Trujillo or VP Crone, call Tiffany Fiser at 489-3820 or John Ingram at 505-217-8020 and they will help you make contact.

CONTACTS
Christine Trujillo, President (c) 239-0871, cvtrujil@msn.com
Tim Crone, VP Political Action Committee (c) 505-927-5284, tcrone@cybermesa.com
nm.aft.org

State Lawmakers Can Restore $30 Student Cut
Roll Back Tax Cuts for Wealthiest, Close Corporate Tax Loopholes

ALBUQUERQUE— AFT New Mexico, which represents 9,000 education employees from cooks to custodians, issued the following statement in response to calls for a special legislative session to address another state budget tax revenue shortfall of $433 million:

“State lawmakers can restore the $30 they cut from the per-student unit funding value if they will make better choices for funding stronger public schools.”

BETTER CHOICES FOR FUNDING STRONGER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
1. Roll back state income tax cuts for wealthiest New Mexicans
2. Close tax loopholes for big out-of-state corporations
3. Use New Mexico’s cash reserves, valued at 12 percent of the state budget
4. Use President Obama’s $3 billion stimulus for New Mexico
5. Tap New Mexico’s $3 billion Severance Tax Fund
6. Tap New Mexico’s $7 billion Permanent School Fund
7. Repeal House Bill 854

“Beginning in 2003, when New Mexico had budget surpluses, lawmakers started cutting state income taxes for the wealthiest New Mexicans and allowing big out-of-state corporations to dodge taxes. Revenues generated by these taxes are used by lawmakers to fund our public schools. As these tax cuts took full effect and energy prices collapsed, revenues decreased, budget surpluses disappeared and deficits happened.”

“In response to a budget deficit of $500 million earlier this year, lawmakers made the choice to cut almost $30 ($29.68) from the 2009/2010 per-student unit funding value. This $30 cut translates into an 8 percent loss to New Mexico’s education budget, about $800 million less for students, faculty and staff.”

“This $30 cut will harm efforts to improve our students’ education at a time when they need more help.”

“If lawmakers will roll back tax cuts for the wealthiest New Mexicans, close big out-of-state corporate tax loopholes, and use the additional revenues to restore education cuts, we can avoid devastating consequences.”

“For example, districts are currently unable to fill vacancies. Class sizes and workloads are increasing. Individualized instruction won’t be available for most students. Today, there are voluntary furloughs and involuntary transfers of employees happening.”

“Some districts are proposing a shortened school week because lawmakers were unable to provide enough money to pay higher electricity costs, heating costs, and higher liability insurance costs. Districts such as Jemez Mtn. are open 4 days a week.”

“Alamogordo’s Middle School and Rolling Hills Elementary School, as well as many other smaller school districts, will need emergency funding to open their doors later this month, and keep them open the entire school year.”

“Finally, because lawmakers didn’t have enough revenues to sufficiently fund New Mexico’s schools, they also passed House Bill 854.”

“HB 854 increases education employees’ retirement deductions. So, employees will take home smaller paychecks beginning later this month. They will have $84 million less money to spend over the next two years, which will also hurt New Mexico’s small businesses.”

###

Note: if you are unable to reach President Trujillo or VP Crone, call Tiffany Fiser at 489-3820 or John Ingram at 505-217-8020 and they will help you make contact.