Roosevelt County Chamber’s
Legislative Report
Feb. 19, 2018

2018 Session noted for bipartisanship
The 30-day session of the 53rd Legislature ended at noon on Thursday with little drama compared to recent years. The main task, a budget, was completed well ahead of the close of the session in a conference committee that moved quickly after the Senate stopped the $6.3 billion proposed House budget over funding for state roads. The only last-day drama of note was Governor Martinez’ offer to provide expert testimony on crime legislation stalled in Senate committee that would have provided tougher penalties to those convicted of killing teens. The Senate turned down her offer and the bill became a casualty of the session. Lots of bills were passed because of the cooperative spirit prevailing this year, including: renewal of an interstate nursing compact, an omnibus crime package, a Spaceport records confidentiality act, guardianship reform and the Carlsbad brine well bill. Could this bipartisanship bode well for the future or will things turn on a dime after the fall elections?

About that budget bill
Most factions seem pretty pleased with the $6.3 billion budget. The biggest sticking point was the lack of funding for the Bernalillo County District Attorney in the original bill. That led to Gov. Martinez labeling the House budget as “soft-on-crime.” Negotiation after the bill reached the Senate brought that office’s budget up almost to what was requested. We appreciate the enormity of the problem that Albuquerque is experiencing with crime right now but the massive increase which will go to hiring more DAs and larger salaries for them and their staffs may create problems in other areas of the state as Albuquerque hires folks away.

The budget also provides a 2 percent raise for most state employees, a 2.5 percent raise for teachers and larger raises for employees in high turnover positions like corrections. The budget also restores fund balances raided from many departments last year as accounts were swept to make up a budget deficit. In addition, the budget should still provide 10 percent toward reserves. Martinez, in her remarks after the session, promised to make that reserve amount even higher with the use of line-item veto to remove capital outlay projects she sees as “pork projects.”

Capital outlay is back
After several years with little or no capital outlay money, Roosevelt County still has $750,000 in the hopper to be approved by the Governor. The biggest of these is two projects worth $190,000 for ENMU that provide additional paved parking and lighting for Greyhound Stadium. Also in the budget is $150,000 for surgical equipment for Roosevelt General Hospital, $120,000 for a backhoe for Elida, $100,000 for Roosevelt County road projects, $100,000 for Portales well field improvement, $40,000 for Portales drainage improvement and design, and $50,000 for a Floyd Schools activity bus. We’re hopeful all of these projects will pass the Governor’s smell test.

GO bonds headed to ballot
Even numbered years are reserved as those in which general obligation (GO) bonds may be added to the ballot. This has been one of the main funding sources for ENMU to build or refurbish buildings and infrastructure. This year it will include a phase one $8 million outlay for reconstruction of Roosevelt Hall along with smaller amounts for the ENMU-Ruidoso campus and the Los Abuelitos Senior Center in Portales. This measure which is an up-or-down vote for bonds statewide is generally been very kind to our area in rate of return. We look forward to hearing the details of the plan from ENMU administration later this year.

A measure to tuck extra money for state roads into the GO bond measure for the first time ever was stripped out in Senate committee.

More details at March 1 Legislative Luncheon
To find out more of the details of how we fared in the state legislature this year, be sure to attend our Chamber Legislative Luncheon on Thursday, March 1 at the Yam Theatre. Doors open at 11:30 with food service starting at 11:45 and the program beginning shortly after noon. Cost is $12 advance or $15 at the door. We have Sen. Stuart Ingle and Rep. Dennis Roch confirmed and hope to hear from other legislators as well. To register online https://www.portales.com/events/details/chamber-luncheon-march-1-3162 or call 356-8541