The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo

By ALAINA MENCINGER
The Santa Fe New Mexican

It took less than 15 minutes for the state’s budget bill for the coming year to sail through the House Appropriations and Finance Committee on a 16-1 vote.

After a brief introduction in which Legislative Finance Committee staff and committee chair Rep. Nathan Small highlighted increases in recurring funding for education, the Office of the State Engineer and public safety, including raises for state police officers, legislators were quick to move House Bill 2 along.

“When we think about it broadly: schools and kids, public safety and police officers, New Mexico’s water,” said Small, D-Las Cruces. “Those were the top three recurring increases.” 

In January, state lawmakers unveiled a $10.8 billion general fund budget plan, representing a 5.7% increase in recurring general fund spending, and an additional $3 billion in one-time appropriations — a record-high budget. The Governor’s Office pitched $10.9 billion in recurring general fund spending and $2.3 billion in one-time appropriations.

House Bill 2 contains $10.6 billion in recurring general fund spending and a little more than $3 billion in non-recurring general fund spending, according to a legislative staff analysis.

The committee did “remarkably well” on developing the budget, Small said. Public work groups and subcommittees have been meeting over the past month to tinker with the budget and hear public comment. 

“We’ve asked a great deal,” Small said. “Folks have stayed late; several mornings have been here started relatively early. … From our work group approach, which you all really leaned into and worked hard on, the recurring adjustments that HAFC work groups recommended and our committee has adopted, I think, very much reflect the priorities and the priorities of the committee.”