New Mexico
Did the NM Legislature fund my program? See a list of 360 projects in 2024 state budget – Source New Mexico
The New Mexico Legislature this year spent more than $320 million on hundreds of local projects requested by lawmakers and 16 select pilot programs that will get three years of funding to determine whether they are effective.
The “Government Results and Opportunity Project Fund” is the newly created home for statewide pilot programs and projects funded through what was formerly known as the “junior” supplemental appropriations bill.
In addition to the $320.6 million in smaller projects laid out in the budget to be funded over the next three years, state lawmakers deposited an additional $512.2 million into a new trust fund overseen by the New Mexico State Investment Council.
That additional money will be invested and is expected to grow and continue to fund projects beyond three years from now.
Funding local projects this way was a recommendation from the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, which touted the trust fund is a way to make future use of the roughly $3.5 billion surplus the state enjoyed this year while also reining in the spending on state programs that might end up failing.
The “junior” appropriations process has been criticized in the past for lack of transparency. It was, until recently, difficult to learn which lawmaker sponsored which project. The state Department of Finance and Administration recently published a detailed list of “junior” appropriations between fiscal years 2021 and 2024. The fiscal year 2025 projects are listed below.
Rep. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces), the chair of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, sponsored House Bill 196, which created the funds. It was endorsed by the New Mexico Finance Committee and passed the Senate on Wednesday, Feb. 14. One benefit of the new process, he said at the hearing, is increased evaluation and accountability for state spending.
The portion of the new funding not being invested is paying for 15 three-year pilot projects in multiple state agencies. It also funds 344 small projects requested by lawmakers and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham that will be funded for the next two years.
Search the list of projects
The 16 pilot projects cost $216 million over the next three years. Those projects range in cost from $1.5 million, including for suicide prevention training, to $60 million, which will pay tuition and fees for students getting workforce training classes at some state colleges.
The small projects cost $104.6 million over the next two years. Most of those projects cost between $160,00 and $200,000, though some are several million dollars.
The 344 projects being funded with that money will pay for a wide range of programs, including marketing for a bicycle race in Silver City, more funding for an Albuquerque food bank, civil legal services across the state and more.
See a searchable list below. The list does not include the lawmakers who sponsored each project, because Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has not yet signed the budget into law, according to legislative staff. Source New Mexico will update the list with lawmaker names as soon as they are released.
But, in the meantime, you can search projects by keyword, and sort by agency, county and amount awarded.
Josh’s Saturday Night Forecast
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Calmer weather has moved back into the state this afternoon. Temperatures are slightly warmer across northwestern New Mexico, while southeastern areas are cooler thanks to the backdoor cold fronts that moved in on Friday. Breezier winds will return Sunday and will help kick off a warming trend across the state, along with an elevated fire threat in eastern New Mexico.
Warmer weather will continue building in across the state throughout the upcoming week. A few isolated rain chances will return Monday in parts of New Mexico, but some of that rain may evaporate before reaching the ground.
Good morning!
Heading out the door this morning? Bundle up! Cold air has settled into the Land of Enchantment after two cold fronts passed through New Mexico within the last 24 hours. Temperatures have fallen to the teens, 20s and 30s throughout northern New Mexico. The metro area is just as cold with Moriarty falling to the teens and several other cities bottoming out near the freezing point. The National Weather Service (NWS) has Freeze Warnings in place until 9 a.m. for several locations in northern and central New Mexico. However, one of the aforementioned cold fronts is still moving through eastern New Mexico this morning. That back door cold front has brought 30-45 mph wind gusts, or more, in southeastern New Mexico. The front will push west further west this morning bringing breezy winds to far south and southwestern New Mexico this afternoon. Otherwise, much calmer weather will be on tap for the state compared to the majority of this week.
The colder air this morning will bring cooler and seasonable weather to the Land of Enchantment later on Saturday. Afternoon highs will range from the high 50s, in sections of the northern mountains, to the 70s in southern New Mexico. Throughout the weekend into early next week a warming trend is expected as a ridge of high pressure builds on Sunday, which is forecasted to last through at least Tuesday. By next Tuesday, high temperatures will be 5 to 15 degrees above normal, and even warmer for some locations by next Wednesday with breezy conditions returning to the state.
Moisture does stream back into the state early next week across New Mexico. Tomorrow’s forecast is expected to have cloud coverage increase with warmer weather. On Monday sufficient moisture in the mid to upper levels of the atmosphere will bring the chance for showers; however, moisture levels toward the surface will be lower. That will also bring the chance for dry showers and thunderstorms throughout the state. Have a great weekend and stay warm this morning!
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A New Mexico man has taken a plea deal for his role in the death of a three-year-old girl more than two years ago. Police said that Kerri Santos brought her toddler to University of New Mexico Hospital, claiming that she fell and hurt herself. Medical staff determined the child was already dead when she arrived, and noticed signs of abuse, including evidence that she had been tied up. Police said that Santos and three others were staying at James Welch’s home when the abuse took place.
On Friday, Welch pleaded no contest to three counts of child abuse and tampering with evidence. He faces up to five years behind bars.
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