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.
Gov. Bill Richardson released his budget counterproposal on Saturday afternoon, just as the Senate was discussing the constitutionality of his proclamation convening the special session. Richardson’s proposal contains 1.5 percent cuts to education—as long as those cuts don’t affect classrooms.
Richardson said he wouldn’t consider tax increases during the special session, but that he would consider a tax revenue package during the regular session in January.
“I have made adjustments to my original budget proposal to reflect our new budget realities,” Richardson said in his statement. “… I have made it very clear to legislators that any cuts to education must be minimal and not affect our classrooms, kids and teachers.”
“We are able to minimize education cuts and protect classroom spending as a result of our aggressive efforts in the past to keep cash reserves at 10 percent or higher,” Richardson said.
The $617 million plan relies partially on those rainy-day reserves to protect schools, while still keeping future cash reserves at a prudent 5.5 percent, the statement said.
Here are the components of Richardson’s proposal:
Cut Agency Spending by 3.5 %
Cut Education Spending by 1.5%. Cuts must include safeguards that classrooms, kids and teachers will not be affected.
Use federal stimulus money to prevent further cuts to education
Divert available short-term bonding proceeds from future capital projects to reimburse general fund for existing capital expenditures
Deauthorize stalled capital outlay projects; cancelling the Governor’s projects as well as those of lawmakers
Delay General Fund increases to retirement and Retiree Health Care Authority funds
Sweeping state accounts of unspent money
