NEW MEXICO'S FINANCIAL PICTURE IS LOOKING BETTER. A NEW FORECAST ANTICIPATES CLOSE TO 300-MILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE IN THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR…ENOUGH FOR A 4-PERCENT INCREASE IN STATE SPENDING. AND THE SENATE'S TOP BUDGET EXPERT, DEMING DEMOCRAT JOHN ARTHUR SMITH, SAYS THAT WILL LIKELY MEAN PAY RAISES FOR WORKERS, ESPECIALLY EDUCATORS AND STATE EMPLOYEES.
THE REVENUE FORECAST CALLS FOR THE STATE TO COLLECT ABOUT 6.2 BILLION DOLLARS IN THE FISCAL YEAR THAT STARTS NEXT JULY.
