Shooting at New Mexico Conquistadors statue protest
A suspect has been arrested on suspicion of fatally shooting a man during a protest in Española, New Mexico, where authorities were planning to install a statue of Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate, authorities said.
- Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is proposing a nearly 10% increase in general fund spending for the fiscal year July 2024 to June 2025, to a total of $10.5 billion.
- The budget plan aims to address housing opportunities, child literacy, and health care access.
- The state is expected to generate a surplus from heavy oil and natural gas production in the Permian Basin.
New Mexico's governor is proposing a nearly 10% increase in general fund spending next year to strengthen housing opportunities, child literacy and health care access, with additional payments for electric vehicle purchases. be exposed.
Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday unveiled a $10.5 billion budget for the fiscal year July 2024 to June 2025. This would increase General Fund spending by approximately $950 million over the current annual debt.
The Democratic-led Legislature is developing its own competing spending plan ahead of the 30-day legislative session that begins Jan. 16. Lujan Grisham can veto any budget provisions approved by lawmakers.
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The nation's second-largest oil-producing state is expected to generate a multibillion-dollar surplus next fiscal year, primarily from oil and gas production in the Permian Basin, which underlies southeastern New Mexico and western Texas. I expect it to be.
New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks at the Arcosa Wind Towers in Belen, New Mexico, on August 9, 2023. Grisham will support next year's General Fund spending on housing opportunities, child literacy, and health care. Access proposed to increase by nearly 10%. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
The Governor signaled that affordable housing is a top priority, expanding opportunity through down payment assistance and one-time spending of $500 million to fund affordable housing and related infrastructure. We are proposing. The state will also use $40 million to launch a statewide homelessness initiative.
In November, voters expressed dissatisfaction with soaring home prices in fast-growing Santa Fe and approved a mansion tax to fund affordable housing efforts.
Spending on public education would increase by $283 million, or 6.8 percent, to nearly $4.5 billion, the largest amount of annual General Fund spending.
One of the goals is to strengthen professional literacy programs while establishing a state literacy institute. The additional funding will help extend the annual school day for public schools across the state. The Republican minority in Congress opposes any push to expand public school schedules.
Lujan Grisham's administration wants to increase state spending to add 2,000 infant and toddler childcare slots and expand early childhood slots by 1,380 slots, as well as increase aid for children being cared for by grandparents. .
Lawmakers have expressed dissatisfaction in recent months with the results of continued spending increases on public education. Statewide, the percentage of students who can read at their grade level is 38%. Mathematics proficiency level is 24%. The state's high school graduation rate remains at 76%, well below the national average of 87%.
“We will continue to spend within our means, responsibly and with accountability in mind,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement.
Her budget proposal includes a 3% increase in salaries for government and public school employees across the state, as well as an 8% increase for correctional officers and a 14% increase for state police.
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Economists at the state agency say New Mexico's income surge is slowing but far from over, and lawmakers are wondering how much more they are spending now in case global oil demand wanes. I am worried about whether to do so or how much money I should secure for the future.
The governor's budget summary leaves $500 million in room for lawmakers to approve tax breaks and incentives to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles and other low-emission cars and trucks.
New Mexico regulators recently adopted an accelerated schedule for automakers to nearly phase out deliveries of gasoline and diesel cars and trucks due to concerns about the affordability of electric vehicles in the high-poverty state. did.
For many other states, the era of soaring budget surpluses and broad tax cuts could end this year as a pandemic-era revenue surge fueled by federal spending and inflation recedes.
