{"id":5333,"date":"2015-03-22T09:00:17","date_gmt":"2015-03-22T16:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/newmexicoinfocus\/?p=5333"},"modified":"2020-06-02T10:25:28","modified_gmt":"2020-06-02T17:25:28","slug":"capital-outlay-projects-often-controversial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/newmexicoinfocus\/capital-outlay-projects-often-controversial\/","title":{"rendered":"Capital outlay projects often controversial"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Sandra Fish
\n<\/strong>New Mexico in Depth\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Editor’s Note:\u00a0New Mexico\u2019s 2015 legislative session ended with lawmakers failing to compromise on a bill to fund capital projects. Yet earlier in the session, a bipartisan\u00a0group\u00a0of senators rejected a measure that attempted to take politics out of the process.<\/em><\/p>\n

Before the session began, New Mexico In Depth offered an examination about New Mexico\u2019s system and how different it is from those in other states for its legislative guide.<\/em><\/p>\n

That story is below; click\u00a0here\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0for a video<\/strong><\/a> explanation and\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0for a searchable database of\u00a0the 2014 capital projects funded by the Legislature.<\/em><\/p>\n

New blinds for an Albuquerque library. Renovations to the dam that supplies water to Las Vegas. Vehicles for a Farmington senior center.\u00a0A movie backlot in Las Cruces.<\/p>\n

Those are just a few of the more than 1,100 projects that made the cut when New Mexico lawmakers pared a $4 billion wishlist to more than $398 million in capital outlay spending in 2014.<\/p>\n

But some question whether the state is making the best use of money when lawmakers divvy up money for small local projects instead of focusing on long-term building goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re diluting our efforts when it comes to the long-term priorities,\u201d said Sen. Pete Campos, a Las Vegas Democrat who has repeatedly \u2013 and unsuccessfully \u2013\u00a0tried to reform the process.<\/p>\n

New Mexico appears to be the only state that allows lawmakers to divide a set amount of money in a method often known as \u201cpork-barrel politics,\u201d said several experts\u00a0New Mexico In Depth talked with.<\/p>\n

Defenders say the process ensures the needs of small cities and counties aren\u2019t overlooked in the capital budgeting process and results in more equitable distribution of bond money across New Mexico\u2019s population.<\/p>\n

But opponents criticize the process for failing to fully fund projects, some of which are left unfinished for years. Critics say some projects end up in the budget that aren\u2019t part of local governments\u2019 long-range plans.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt ends up costing more in the long run,\u201d said Tom Clifford, cabinet secretary for the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA). \u201cAnd it undercuts confidence in the program.\u201d<\/p>\n

Campos will be back with a reform bill when the Legislature meets Jan. 20 for its 60-day session. With Republicans \u2013 presumably allies of Martinez \u2013 in control of the House, his chances might be better, though it\u2019s difficult to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t anticipate any changes to the capital outlay process, but we certainly welcome the discussion,\u201d House Speaker-elect Don Tripp of Socorro said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Setting standards<\/strong><\/p>\n

New Mexico\u2019s processes for capital projects meet many of the standards set forth in a report earlier this year from the National Association of State Budget Officers:<\/p>\n