On Monday, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham released her proposed state spending plan that would expand the state budget for the second consecutive year. The bill would increase current state spending by 8.4%, nearly $600 million over current levels. Among the proposed expenditures in the Governor’s bill are increased funding for New Mexico teachers and schools with high numbers of at risk students, funding to hire more state police officers and shoring up the critically underfunded Public Employees Retirement Association.
Governor Lujan Grisham’s spending package proposal is similar to the forthcoming spending plan being created by the Legislative Finance Committee to be released later this week. With New Mexico’s legislative session beginning on January 21st, passing a balanced budget will be top priority for lawmakers. Read more HERE