NEW MEXICO IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO HAVING A BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR THAT STARTS IN JULY. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, THE HOUSE APPROVED A 6-POINT-3-7 BILLION DOLLAR SPENDING PLAN ON A VOTE OF 65-TO-3.
THE BUDGET INCREASES SPENDING BY 249 MILLION DOLLARS OVER CURRENT LEVELS. IT CONTAINS RAISES FOR MOST STATE EMPLOYEES INCLUDING STATE POLICE AND CORRECTIONS OFFICERS. TEACHERS ARE ALSO IN LINE FOR A PAY RAISE.
80 MILLION DOLLARS WAS SET ASIDE FOR ROAD PROJECTS STATEWIDE AND 10 MILLION DOLLARS WAS EARMARKED FOR A NEW HANGER AT SPACEPORT AMERICA. THE SPENDING PLAN NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.
