Former Gov. Toney Anaya, who heads up the state's Office of Recovery and Reinvestment, has said that the spending of the state's share of stimulus money will be transparent. In covering the stimulus as part of my beat, I've found that generally to be the case so far, although it took a while to get used to how the state presents the information on its website. And, it still takes some knowledge of state government speak to wade through the reports.
Anyway, when Gov. Bill Richardson announced yesterday that he was spending the last of his discretionary stimulus pot, (and not on a horse ranch) I looked back and what else he had used the $58 million in discretionary funds for. Here's a complete list, from the recovery office.
New Mexico Corrections Department. Help balance the state budget as the state continues to feel the impact of the recession. This move will help avoid cuts to important state services. $20,000,000
Help stave off additional state-employee furloughs and layoffs, $3.1 million
Graduate New Mexico! Initiative $8,312,877
Purchase land on the College of Santa Fe Campus $4,000,000
Expand Cerrillos Hills State Park and establish wild horse refuge $3,000,000
Assist teachers with health insurance premiums, professional development $2,500,000
Fund child care assistance and services $2,000,000
General Assistance Program for struggling New Mexicans $2,000,000
New construction and renovation at Los Luceros $1,750,000
Fund the New Mexico Office of Recovery and Reinvestment $1,150,000
Fund new Rio Rancho fire station $1,000,000
Food purchase and transportation to address food insecurity, including matching funds for farmers' markets purchases by
SNAP recipients $1,000,000
Fund interactive whiteboards in New Mexico classrooms $1,000,000
Fund dam and structural repairs at six acequias, or community irrigation systems $823,500
Fund State Police vehicles and fuel $750,000
Fund early childhood programs $734,000
City of Albuquerque Fire Department Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus $685,000
Fund Sunday Rail Runner service $643,500
Fund school breakfast and GRADS program $460,000
Cover budget shortfall to avoid furloughs in New Mexico courts $450,000
Department of Cultural Affairs furlough prevention $352,200
Fund Center for Education and Studies of Diverse Populations $350,000
Treatment services for veterans suffering from PTSD $350,000
Animal protection training for law enforcement $350,000
Construct wetlands treatment cell at Zuni Pueblo $300,000
Bernalillo County water project $300,000
Human Services Department furlough prevention $295,300
Fund juvenile justice community programs $250,000
Promote tourism opportunities in New Mexico through increased branding, advertising, and promotion $250,000
Fund Child Crisis Center of Southern New Mexico $250,000
Cover budget shortfall in the Pre-Kindergarten Program $237,123
Alleviate Developmental Disabilities Planning Council budget shortfall $209,800
Provide landscaping, furnishings, and equipment needs at New Mexico State University's Native American Student Center
$200,000
Address budget shortfall to alleviate case backlog at the Public Defender Department $200,000
Fund Santa Fe International Folk Art Market $200,000
Support domestic violence programs $200,000
International Relations Institute at New Mexico State University $200,000
New Mexico Land Grant Council funding $200,000
Energy efficiency upgrades to higher education institution campuses $200,000
Wild horse herd management on the Jicarilla Apache Nation $100,000
New Mexico Highlands University - New Mexico Cultural Programs and Materials $100,000
Gadsden Independent School District STEM Program $100,000
Completion of heating and cooling system at New Mexico School for the Deaf $100,000
Health Careers Pathway Program at Raton High School $75,000
Promote Tour of the Gila bike race in Silver City $50,000
Children of incarcerated parents $50,000
Fund budget shortfall at Lensic Performing Arts Center and free admissions for children $50,000
Regulation and Licensing Department furlough prevention $15,700
Adult Parole Board furlough prevention $8,000
Office of Natural Resources Trustee furlough prevention $7,100
Virtually all of that I completely agree with. Bill Richardson was a good governor.
ReplyDeleteA lot of it wasn't really stimulus but putting off the day of reckoning. We will all have to bite the bullet in 2011--and it won't be pretty.
ReplyDelete