WE NOW HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT WHAT KIND OF SPENDING PLAN LEGISLATORS WILL SEE LATER THIS MONTH. GOVERNOR MARTINEZ REVEALS HER BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS ON MONDAY. THEY INCLUDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR EDUCATION THAT WOULD COVER TEACHER SALARIES AND MERIT PAY BONUSES. MARTINEZ ALSO WANTS TO EXPAND PROGRAMS TO BRING MORE MEDICAL PROVIDERS TO RURAL AREAS.
STATE SENATOR SUE WILSON-BEFFORT SITS ON THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE. SHE SAYS THE MORE THAN 6-BILLION DOLLAR PLAN ALSO INCLUDES RAISES FOR STATE WORKERS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL PERSONNEL.
WILSON-BEFFORT TELLS US THE ONE THING THEY'RE CAREFUL TO AVOID IS OVER-SPENDING. SHE SAYS, ONCE THE MONEY IS SPENT, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT BACK. YOU THEN HAVE TO HOLD A SPECIAL SESSION AND RETRIEVE THE MONEY BY RAISING TAXES OR CUTTING PROGRAMS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE CONSTITUTION.
THE L-F-C IS PROPOSING A NEARLY 254-MILLION DOLLAR SPENDING INCREASE, ABOUT 4-POINT-3 PERCENT HIGHER THAT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
