Last year the Legislature increased general fund spending by a robust 12%. But, with oil and gas money flowing into the State at record levels, state agencies are looking to further increase their budgets in Fiscal Year 2021 (which will be discussed by the Legislature in January). Funding requests have so far proposed a cumulative spending increase of 17 percent from the General Fund over current funding levels. This 17 percent increase does not include funding requests for Public School Support and from higher education institutions.
Here are a few year-over-year request highlights from the extremely ambitious spending agendas of New Mexico’s government agencies.
Attorney General’s office 20 percent increase
State Auditor’s office 37 percent increase
Secretary of State’s office 28 percent increase
State Treasurer’s office 11 percent increase
Governor’s office 10 percent increase
General Services Department 20 percent increase
Taxation and Revenue Department 9 percent increase
Tourism Department 43 percent increase
Economic Development Dept. 20 percent increase
Spaceport Authority 260 percent increase (that is not a typo)
Regulation and Licensing Dept. 11 percent increase
Cultural Affairs Department 14 percent increase
Administrative Office of the Courts 19 percent increase
Administrative Office of DAs 39 percent increase
State Racing Commission 62 percent increase
DFA Special Appropriations 22 percent increase
State Engineer 26 percent increase
New Mexico Livestock Board 104 percent increase
Workforce Solutions Department 20 percent increase
Human Services Dept. 11 percent increase ($126.8 million increase)
Department of Environment 72 percent increase
Public Education Department 11 percent increase
Higher Education Department 58 percent increase
