No matter how you slice it, New Mexico spends big

In the past RGF has used the excellent USgovernmentspending.com website to determine how much state and local government spends as a percentage of the State’s GDP (4th most in the US).

Another report, this one from Kaiser Family Foundation, looks at Total State Expenditures per Capita (person) rather than as a percent of GDP. The data are for FY 2021 and we are currently in the FY 2024 budget. Given the rapid rate of spending growth in recent years, New Mexico is likely the biggest-spending state in the nation at this point.

You can see the results below as the table highlights that New Mexico spent more than twice per-person what either Colorado or Texas in FY 2021:

As the map below highlights, only California, Oregon, Hawaii, and Alaska spend more per-person than does New Mexico.