A Great Summary of the New Mexico Legislature's Special Session

The New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council, one of the participants in a broad coalition to address hunger in New Mexico, on Wednesday released a great summary of the NM State Legislature's special session.

The Legislature met on June 18-20 to adjust the state budget, which took a hit because of the health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of decline in revenues and plunge in oil prices, the Legislature was charged with adjusting the budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, which began on July 1.

The budget became official on June 30 when Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the final appropriations bill HB1, General Appropriations Act and issed the Governor's Message, which provides guidance to all agencies as to budget cuts and redirection of specific priorities of the Governor.

Just prior to the Special Session, the NMFAPC submitted a letter to legislators who had sponsored the NMFAPC's priority legislation requesting that they hold programs whole and minimize cuts. The NMFAPC alsopartnered with New Mexico First and the broad anti-hunger coalition to share collective priorities with all New Mexico legislators and the Office of the Governor.

Here are some excerpts from the NMFAPC report, courtesy of Pam Roy.  

Budget mandated cuts of 4-6% for agencies
The majority of the NMFAPC priorities stayed within agency budgets yet will see cuts of four to six percent depending on the agency. The priority agriculture programs administered by the NM Department of Agriculture, including support for farmers' markets and local promotion programs, Soil and Water Conservation Districts program funds, and the healthy soils program, will be subject to the NMDA four percent cuts.

Pilot fund does not survive
Unfortunately, the Agriculture and Natural Resources Pilot Fund of $1.8 million did not survive the cuts. NM State University faces a four percent cut across all programs. Our priorities to continue funding for the NM Cooperative Extension Services and Experimental Stations are within the NMSU budget.

Special Programs Preserved
New Mexico Grown Fruits and Vegetables for School Meals appropriation of $400,000 and the Elimination of Co-pays for School Breakfast and Lunch of $650,000 were maintained in the NM Public Education Department budget. They will be subject to the agency percent cuts. This is a relief, as the Legislative Finance Committee had recommended cuts of 50 percent to both programs.

Reduction in Special Senior Fund
The new Kiki Saavedra Senior Dignity Fund was sanded by $1 million leaving a balance of $6.3 million to initiate a wide variety of programs that will benefit seniors across New Mexico. It is our request that the New MexicoGrown Fruits and Vegetables for Senior Meal Programs be considered for a modest amount of funding to launch a statewide program, building on the successful pilot program just completed.

Summary: The NMFAPC looks forward to working with the full NMFAPC and agencies to make sure budget cuts are equitable and no priority programs get cut. Most important is the work ahead of us into 2021and beyond.