Live Twitter Updates

NM House ok’s state budget

http://newmexico.watchdog.org/16956/nm-house-oks-state-budget-moves-to-senate-next/

By Rob Nikolewski

On February 21, 2013

The House of Representatives approved a budget Thursday (Feb. 21) that calls for $5.9 billion state spending for the next fiscal year that begins in July and calls for a 1 percent increase in pay for teachers and state employees and a 3 percent raise for State Police and motor transportation.

That’s the first pay raise for state workers since 2008.

Some 57 percent of the budget will go toward education (44 percent for public schools and 13 to higher education). The budget that was passed Thursday also would establish a merit pay system for teachers — something that a number of Democrats didn’t like.

The final vote was 53-16, with all Republicans voting for yes and 16 of the 38 Democrats in the House voting no.

The budget will now move to the Senate for consideration.


Comments are closed.