STATE SPENDING IS UP BY 10 PERCENT THANKS TO A BOOM IN OIL DRILLING IN NEW MEXICO. AND THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL REPORTS SPENDING LEVELS WILL H IT AN ALL-TIME HIGH IF A BUDGET PLAN APPROVED BY A HOUSE COMMITTEE MONDAY SURVIVES THE LEGISLATURE. THE JOURNAL REPORTS SPENDING LEVELS WOULD BE JUST UNDER 7 BILLION DOLLARS.
MOST OF THE FUNDING INCREASE WOULD GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS … A 16 PERCENT INCREASE THAT WOULD GIVE TEACHERS HIGHER PAY AND ALSO FUNNEL MORE MONEY INTO SCHOOL DISTRICTS, NATIVE AMERICAN AND STUDENTS WHO NEED TO LEARN ENGLISH, AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS.
