GOVERNOR SUSANA MARTINEZ UNVEILS HER BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THE NEARLY 6-POINT-1 BILLION DOLLAR SPENDING PLAN REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF JUST UNDER 179-MILLION DOLLARS.
THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES INCLUDE 100 MILLION DOLLARS IN NEW FUNDS FOR EDUCATION. IT REPRESENTS 56 PERCENT OF THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED TOTAL NEW SPENDING.
THE BUDGET INCLUDES AN INCREASE IN THE STARTING PAY FOR TEACHERS, RAISING IT FROM 30-THOUSAND A YEAR TO 33-THOUSAND A YEAR. THE LEGISLATIVE LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP WOULD GET 11-MILLION DOLLARS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS THROUGH THE SPRING SEMESTER. HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO PAY RAISES FOR ALL STATE EMPLOYEES, SOMETHING THAT IS PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE'S PROPOSAL.
