State employees who work directly for Governor Lujan Grisham got hefty pay raises in January and are due for another raise in July:
NM House Minority Leader Ryan Lane, told the Santa Fe New Mexican there are “a couple of things” about the raises that may concern taxpayers. “One is just the unusual timing of the raises themselves. Typically, raises [for state government employees] take effect in July.” Rep Lane pointed out that members of the governor’s inner circle are also poised to get the average 6% raise all state employees are scheduled to receive in the upcoming fiscal year. “It seems like they’re in for a double raise.” Lane added, the “sheer amount of the raises” is also likely to be concerning to taxpayers. “There’s a number of New Mexicans who barely make $40,000 an entire year, let alone in one big raise.”