NM governor proposes $7.1 billion budget
Tuesday marks the start of the legislative session in New Mexico.
Legislators and the governor are coming into the session anticipating a larger budget than in years past.
In a news release from Monday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham offered a preview of what she would like to see come across her desk.
It included an overall general fund recurring budget of $7.1 billion, which is a 13 percent increase from 2018.
Grisham, who focused on improving New Mexico’s public education system, proposed more than $500 million in additional funding for schools. That includes a 6 percent pay increase for teachers, principals and education personnel and a raise in tiered minimum salaries as well as minimum salaries for principals and a minimum wage increase for all education personnel to $12 an hour. It also includes $113 million to improve the performance of low-income students, minority students, English language learners and students with disabilities and $60 million for increasing the number of pre-kindergarten slots, the number of high-quality Pre-K educators, and financial aid for early childhood educators, among other items.
The new governor also proposed an increased investment in the Local Economic Development Act to $75 million, as well as investments in the Job Training Incentive Program, tourism marketing initiatives, Main Street and other economic development and workforce programs.
​When it comes to families and children, Grisham is proposing a $36.5 million increase in the Children, Youth and Families Department budget, including almost $4 million to fund more than 100 new Protective Services positions.
Other items:
$27 million for Centennial Care enrollment and utilization growth
One-time funds to repay the entirety of the state’s film rebate backlog
Tiered salary increases for state employees and an across-the-board minimum wage increase for state employees to $12 an hour
A surge in oil and natural gas production in the state’s southeastern corner has provided state government with a multibillion-dollar windfall in income. State revenues are expected to surpass current annual spending obligations by $1.1 billion for the fiscal year starting in July – or 17 percent of the current annual general fund budget.
