Martinez signs budget slashed after low oil and gas prices

A budget that is smaller than the previous year’s for the first time in years is now law. Gov. Susana Martinez signed the budget bill into law on Monday. Martinez did not hold a press conference, but did announce she signed the budget when speaking to a crowd of businesspeople in Albuquerque. The budget is […]

Martinez signs budget slashed after low oil and gas prices

A budget that is smaller than the previous year’s for the first time in years is now law. Gov. Susana Martinez signed the budget bill into law on Monday.

Gov. Susana Martinez during the 2016 State of the State Address. Photo Credit: Andy Lyman.
Gov. Susana Martinez during the 2016 State of the State Address. Photo Credit: Andy Lyman.

Martinez did not hold a press conference, but did announce she signed the budget when speaking to a crowd of businesspeople in Albuquerque.

The budget is approximately $6.2 billion in all. Legislators originally thought they would have new money to spend, but instead ended up cutting funds because oil and gas prices plummeted and continued to stay lower than originally projected.

Oil and gas revenue makes up a significant part of the state’s budget.

“In response to persistently low oil and gas prices, which continue to have an impact on our state revenue outlook, this budget appropriately reduces spending in the current fiscal year across most agencies of state government and reduces agency base budgets for fiscal year 2017 as well,” Martinez wrote in her signing message. “These are responsible steps, and as we move forward, our agencies will work diligently to cut costs–curbing hiring, examining contracts, reducing travel, and taking a number of other steps that can help bring down spending in the months to come.”

Martinez also wrote that she “used my line-item veto authority very sparingly in this legislation.”

One major veto came from portions to give the executive branch authority to reduce funding if legislative finance committee staff and Department of Finance and Administration staff find it necessary because of the budget situation worsening; Martinez vetoed this, saying, “the Executive and Legislative branches must work together to revise the budget if needed to address a major revenue shortfall; the vetoed part would have put the burden on the Executive to unilaterally develop a plan to discharge this joint responsibility.”

This provision was included by the Senate Finance Committee to allow the executive branch to make decisions and avoid calling the Legislature in for a special session to deal with the budget.

Other line-item vetoes included a provision that would require at least one-third of Job Training Incentive Program funds go to “nonurban areas” as well as a provision that would allow the legislative finance committee to review and comment on reducing hte geoneral operating budget by $31 million.

While she acknowledged that the current situation was difficult, the governor expressed optimism at the end of her signing statement.

“I strongly believe that our insistence on restraining government growth and building up a strong reserve has placed us in a better position to tackle the revenue challenge currently before us,” she wrote.

She also signed HB 311, a piece of legislation that transfers funds from various different state funds into the general fund.

She line-item vetoed a portion of that legislation that would transfer $14 million from the Economic Development Department if reserves drop below five percent.

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

A New Mexico-based LGBTQ rights organization endorsed 15 candidates for state House and Senate seats for the 2024 elections.  Marshall Martinez, executive director of…
Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pocket vetoed two bills the legislature passed this legislative session: one changing the Cybersecurity Act and the other concerning law…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…
Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republican-backed legislation in the U.S. Congress would make it harder for the government to designate new national monuments. The proposed Congressional Oversight of the…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News Four years after hospitals in New York City overflowed with covid-19 patients, emergency physician Sonya Stokes remains shaken by…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Later this month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case against the abortion medication mifepristone. It will hear a second…
New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid announced on Wednesday that it will cover the cost of Opill, the first oral contraception approved for over-the-counter use. It is…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

The Navajo Nation and San Juan County reached an agreement Monday about commission districts after the tribe alleged that its members were not adequately…
MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

New Mexico’s 2022 election was ranked most well-run in the country by Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Election Data and Science Lab’s Elections Performance Index.…
Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report