Budgeting Differences Begin to Emerge

Governor Martinez

Santa Fe New Mexican - Judging by their budget proposals, Gov. Susana Martinez and the Legislature agree on a lot of things. But spending on the state's prisons and the Environment Department aren't among them. Neither is the state's controversial film-tax credit program. Martinez on Monday announced that she would save $25 million by trimming the controversial subsidy to film companies that former Gov. Bill Richardson touted as a job-generating program. The Legislature's plan doesn't contemplate the film-tax credit program. Those differences in the two budget proposals showcase potential fights during this year's 60-day legislative session.

Both plans will compete for votes as Martinez and state lawmakers work to close the gap between New Mexico's revenues and expenses. On Monday, Martinez sounded as if she were contemplating her first veto at the mention of the Legislature's recommendation to cut the state's corrections agency by nearly $11 million, taking it to $251 million in funding from more than $262 million. Such a deep cut to the corrections agency likely would lead to the "early release of prisoners," Martinez said Monday, explaining why she opposes the recommendation. Meanwhile, Martinez wants to trim the New Mexico Environment Department by $3 million, which would take that agency from $14.2 million to $11.2 million in funding, a sizable difference from the Legislature's recommended cut of $800,000. Read more here:

Budgeting Differences Begin to Emerge