House GOP package restores funding for public safety and CYFD, protects K-12 education
Santa Fe, NM - The proposal to resolve New Mexico's budget shortfall unveiled by House Republicans today reverses the Senate's cuts to law enforcement and child protection programs. It also reduces the impact of the Senate's cuts to K-12 education and preserves job-creating economic incentive programs - all without raising taxes.
GǣHouse Republicans have crafted a plan to balance the budget while shielding essential services that New Mexicans depend on,Gǥ House Majority Leader Nate Gentry said. GǣIn this difficult fiscal situation, we all need to make sacrifices, including legislators. This is why House Republicans are dedicating $10 million from the Legislative Retirement Fund to help fill the budget hole. We're also dedicating future money from the fund for child protection programs. The measures included in this plan won't please everyone, but it's a fair proposal. House Republicans have worked hard to be good stewards of public funds with this budget.Gǥ
Keeping New Mexico's Families and Children Safe
This session House Republicans led the charge to protect New Mexicans by increasing penalties for child abusers and violent repeat felons. House Republicans also fought to preserve funding for the Department of Public Safety and the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD). The House Republican plan reverses the Senate's $1.8 million cut to law enforcement programs and $1.5 million cut to CYFD's children's behavioral health services, juvenile justice facilities and program support. In addition to undoing the senate's cuts to CYFD, the House plan would dedicate an additional $1.5 million to CYFD for child protection services. The House Republican budget also protects funding for services for victims of sexual assault and sexual assault prevention programs.
Protecting K-12 Education
Over the weekend, House Republicans blocked an attempt by the Senate and House Democrats to raid $25 million from school district reserve accounts. House Republicans also reduced the Senate's impacts on Gǣbelow-the-lineGǥ programs that support early childhood education, breakfast for elementary school students, truancy and dropout prevention, middle school social workers, STEM initiatives and teacher support. In all, the House reduced the senate cuts to K-12 education by $31 million.
Preserving Our Jobs Pipeline
The plan developed by House Republicans maintains support for New Mexico's economic development incentive programs such as the closing fund and the Job Training Incentive Program. It removes the Senate's cap on the high-wage job tax credit while closing loopholes in the program. Companies like Facebook, Skorpios Technologies and Mako Medical Laboratories have cited these incentives as key factors in their decisions to invest and create jobs in New Mexico. Preserving these incentives shows companies interested in creating jobs here that vital support will remain available and stable for the long term.
Making A Shared Sacrifice
Unlike the Senate plan, the House dedicated $10 million from the Legislative Retirement Fund (LRF) which funds legislators' pensions, to fill the budget hole. The LRF is significantly overfunded. The House plan also diverts $1.5 million per year from the LRF to fund child protection programs. The House plan also transfers an additional $1 million from legislative cash balances.
GǣIn the lead-up to the special session and through the weekend, House Republicans have worked hard to craft a plan that protects public safety, education and incentives to help create good jobs for New Mexicans,Gǥ said Rep. Jason Harper, Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. GǣAnd we kept our promise to not raise taxes and place the burden on New Mexico families. I look forward to passing this legislation and getting our plan to Governor Martinez.Gǥ
The House will vote on the package later today.