New Mexico
New Mexico's oil income investments now surpass personal income tax revenue
SANTA FE, N.M. — Efforts by New Mexico to save and invest portions of a financial windfall from local oil production are paying off as state government income on investments surpasses personal income tax collections for the first time, according to a new forecast Monday.
General fund income from the state’s two, multibillion-dollar permanent funds and interest on treasury accounts is expected to climb to $2.1 billion for the fiscal year between July 2024 and June 2025, surpassing $2 billion in revenue from personal income taxes.
The investment earnings are designed to ensure that critical programs — ranging from childcare subsidies to tuition-free college and trade school education — endure if oil income falters amid a possible transition to new sources of energy.
At the same time, legislators this year revised personal income tax brackets to lower taxes in the nation’s No. 2 state for oil production behind Texas.
“We’re not a poor state anymore,” said Democratic state Sen. George Muñoz of Gallup. “We’ve got things that we can win on — free education, childcare … low taxes for working families, for children. And that’s all because we’ve done a lot of the work to set this up for the future.”
The comments came at a legislative panel Monday where economists from four government agencies announced an income estimate for the coming year. The figures are the baseline for budget negotiations when the Democratic-led Legislature convenes in January.
State government income, which is closely linked to oil production in New Mexico, continues to grow, though at a slower pace, as legislators discuss new investments in social programs aimed at curbing crime and homelessness.
Economists estimate the state will bring in a record-setting $13.6 billion in general fund income for the fiscal year that runs from July 2025 to June 2026, a 2.6% increase over the current period.
This year’s income bump leaves room for an additional $892 million in state spending in the coming fiscal year, a 7% increase, according to the Legislature’s accountability and budgeting office. State income is forecast to exceed current bedrock annual spending obligations by $3.4 billion.
New Mexico legislators are pushing to open new savings accounts.
One proposal would set aside as much as $1 billion in a trust to underwrite spending on mental health and addiction treatment in response to public frustration with crime and homelessness. Legislators also are likely to revisit a stalled proposal to create a trust for Native American education that could expand Indigenous language instruction.
New Mexico
New Mexico leaders push colleges to keep tuition flat
New Mexico leaders are pushing colleges to keep tuition flat, saying strong state funding should mean lower costs for students and families.New Mexico offers tuition-free college through the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships, but hikes can still hurt graduate students, out-of-state students and some student-athletes.Higher Education Department Cabinet Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez said the University of New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands University and Eastern New Mexico University have so far kept tuition unchanged.Rodriguez said keeping tuition low is important not only for students currently covered by scholarships, but also for protecting the long-term promise of tuition-free college in New Mexico. She said if state revenues decline in the future, scholarship funding could face pressure.She also said community colleges have generally seen somewhat higher tuition increases than four-year institutions.According to the Higher Education Department, statewide enrollment has increased for four consecutive years and is up about 13.4% since 2022. Freshman enrollment is up 18.2% over the same period.Rodriguez said affordability is helping attract students and encouraging them to remain in New Mexico after graduation. “Nationally, tuition has increased astronomically, and that has to do with inflation, the increased cost of construction, and just– but here in New Mexico, we are seeing the lowest tuition increases that we have seen since the implementation of the lottery scholarship in 1996,” Rodriguez said.She also said New Mexico now ranks 20th in the nation for higher education, up from 50th seven years ago.
New Mexico leaders are pushing colleges to keep tuition flat, saying strong state funding should mean lower costs for students and families.
New Mexico offers tuition-free college through the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships, but hikes can still hurt graduate students, out-of-state students and some student-athletes.
Higher Education Department Cabinet Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez said the University of New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands University and Eastern New Mexico University have so far kept tuition unchanged.
Rodriguez said keeping tuition low is important not only for students currently covered by scholarships, but also for protecting the long-term promise of tuition-free college in New Mexico. She said if state revenues decline in the future, scholarship funding could face pressure.
She also said community colleges have generally seen somewhat higher tuition increases than four-year institutions.
According to the Higher Education Department, statewide enrollment has increased for four consecutive years and is up about 13.4% since 2022. Freshman enrollment is up 18.2% over the same period.
Rodriguez said affordability is helping attract students and encouraging them to remain in New Mexico after graduation.
“Nationally, tuition has increased astronomically, and that has to do with inflation, the increased cost of construction, and just– but here in New Mexico, we are seeing the lowest tuition increases that we have seen since the implementation of the lottery scholarship in 1996,” Rodriguez said.
She also said New Mexico now ranks 20th in the nation for higher education, up from 50th seven years ago.
New Mexico
NM Wildlife Federation holds inaugural Outdoor Festival
EDGEWOOD, N.M. (KRQE) – The New Mexico Wildlife Federation gave people the opportunity to learn some new skills. On Saturday, Legacy Ranch Shooting Range hosted the Outdoor Festival and Skills Competition.
Guests got to experience live demonstrations and presentations on fly fishing, outdoor cooking, and hunting tips. The family-friendly event taught people the importance of the state’s wildlife federation.
“Our priority is maintaining the robust populations of wildlife for all New Mexicans to enjoy. The hunting and fishing traditions that exist in New Mexico fund conservation in this state, and provide the necessary means for our state wildlife agency to manage wildlife, so that it’ll exist for generations to come,” said Jesse Deubel, executive director of New Mexico Wildlife Federation.
The event also had live music, a handful of vendors, and competitive events. This was the first year that the Wildlife Federation put on this event, and organizers say that the event will be back in the future.
New Mexico
New Mexico Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Day results for April 4, 2026
The New Mexico Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 4, 2026, results for each game:
Powerball
03-06-13-41-65, Powerball: 01, Power Play: 4
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Day: 1-3-5
Evening: 4-8-8
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Lotto America
06-31-35-36-40, Star Ball: 10, ASB: 03
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Evening: 8-7-2-9
Day: 8-4-1-0
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Roadrunner Cash
04-06-10-18-23
Check Roadrunner Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Powerball Double Play
20-38-45-58-63, Powerball: 05
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Las Cruces Sun-News editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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