New federal Census population growth data were released earlier this week. And, it is clear that New Mexico is not as attractive a location for people to settle as its neighbors. Is it the lack of a “right to work” law which all of our neighbors beside Colorado have? Is it marijuana legalization (Colorado) and strict constitutional limits on taxes and spending as both Colorado and Oklahoma have? Smaller government as all of our neighbors have? Zero income tax as Texas has? Or is it the fact that New Mexico has an onerous gross receipts tax?
The answer, we believe, is all of the above (and more crime and education to name two). Our weather is better than Oklahoma or Texas for sure. We have more federal dollars flowing into New Mexico than any other state, so that is a non-starter.
