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.
As state legislators drew the March special session to a close, they gave Gov. Bill Richardson authority to cut agency budgets and education without convening the Legislature into special session, and authorized him to dip into the state’s reserves for $132 million to cover shortfalls spanning this and next fiscal year. Those reserves look spoken for already, according to an analysis by Barry Massey of the Associated Press.
The Legislative Finance Committee estimates the state’s revenue collections are running $76 million short for this year. Cash reserves will need to plug that gap, which may grow between now and the end of June. Gov. Richardson vetoed a $68 million food tax imposed at the March special legislative session, saying cash reserves plus $20 million in stimulus funds will pick up the slack next fiscal year, which starts July 1.
Next year, the revenue to balance the budget includes $200 million in stimulus funds, according to Massey. When the Legislature convenes early next year, the 2012 budget will have to be crafted without those stimulus funds.
