Contact: Erika Martinez
(505)986-4263
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2014
Bill Aims to Address State Fair Fiasco
Santa Fe, NM- Senate Majority Whip Tim Keller (D-17-Bernalillo) has introduced a bill, which he says will serve as a comprehensive restructuring to the operations of the state fair and will bring solvency to its troubled balance sheet.
“It is critical that we address the myriad of problems with the State Fair and its operations,” said Sen. Keller, who represents the fairgrounds community and nearby International District in Albuquerque. “The findings of the state auditor include violations of the procurement code and debts totally over $2 million.”
Bill summary of improvements include: Restructuring the management of Expo NM such that the director be confirmed by the senate and hired by the commission; requiring the State Fair commission to take public comment at each meeting; requiring the State Fair commission to comply/post on the sunshine portal, and procurement code; banning campaign contributions from long term lessors with leases greater than $1 million; requiring the director of the fair to report twice a year to the legislature, once on general operations and once on state fair performance (similar to what is done with space port and others). The bill also provides $2 million in onetime funds for debt repayment.
The bill is a combination of recommendations from the Legislative Finance Committee’s (LFC) 2012 report and the recent “High Risk” watch list inclusion by New Mexico State Auditor, Hector Balderas, after his comprehensive review of the operations and contacting process at the State Fair.
“It’s all about good governance at the State Fair,” said Sen. Keller. Sen. Keller said he feels the change would put an end to “the unproductive cycle of State Fair commission shenanigans, rigged contracting and neighborhood resistance to create a rightful shared governance of this community asset.”
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