Posted on 01/06/2020 12:30:17 PM PST by CedarDave
SANTA FE New Mexico state spending would rise significantly for the second consecutive year under a budget proposal unveiled by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday that would boost state spending by $596.3 million or roughly 8.4% over current levels.
The nearly $7.7 billion spending plan includes a proposed 4% salary increase for New Mexico teachers and more money for school districts with a large number of at risk students, as the state continues to grapple with the fallout of a landmark legal ruling about its public education system.
It would also provide additional dollars to hire 60 additional State Police officers, create a New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship that would benefit an estimated 55,000 college students and expand funding for child-care assistance and pre-Kindergarten programs statewide.
We recognize great opportunity necessitates both aggressive strategic action and fiscal responsibility, she added.
New Mexicos recent spending growth comes after several cash-lean years and is being fueled in large part by record-breaking oil production in the states southeast corner.
In addition, some of the states budgetary windfall would be spent on one-time expenditures, including $320 million to set up a new early childhood endowment fund.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
Thanks for the explanation.
“to hire 60 additional State Police officers,”
No doubt hired to help fortify enforcement of her newly
enacted gun laws.
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