In early October Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham’s administration launched a new transparency web page intended to make it easier for the public to track the state’s handling of capital outlay money. State executives said they hope the new website “adds a dose of accountability to state agencies and local governments overseeing capital projects.”

The tool was designed to be used by both state and local officials, as well as the public at large to track the progress of projects and how the money is being spent. The site also includes a “reversion year” function – or the deadline by which the money must be spent before it’s allocation expires, making the funds available for other projects.

New Mexico’s capital outlay process has faced intense criticism for years over a lack of coordination between state and local governments, a lack of transparency, and whether the priorities actually address serious state needs. This transparency tool won’t solve all of those issues, as some of them would require state legislative action, but it will at least allow citizens to track what is happening – or not happening, with taxpayer money.

NMBC applauds this effort to increase governmental accountability in respect to how taxpayer money is spent, but the state still has plenty of room for improvement and no reason not to be fully accountable to it’s taxpaying citizens. Read more HERE.