Members of the New Mexico House of Representatives have unanimously approved, on a 70 to 0 vote, a bill providing for just under $520 million in capital outlay spending.
The package, with individual projects submitted to lawmakers by various state agencies, includes $25 million for a variety of school facility projects; and $12.5 million for local economic development projects.
Other items include $5 million for a combined soccer stadium and multi-purpose center to go up in Albuquerque; and nearly $4 million for the building of health crisis centers for homeless people.
The list of approved capital outlay projects is now under consideration in the Senate. Upon passage it will be sent to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham who has the authority to veto any of the individual projects.
The original capital outlay list submitted to lawmakers contained more than 1,000 individual projects covering everything from new senior center facilities to museum upgrades and park improvements.
At the same time that the capital outlay list is under consideration, the New Mexico State Senate has voted to approve legislation requiring lawmakers to reveal how funding is spent on projects they advanced.
That legislation, which is expected to add transparency to the process, will also be sent to the Governor for her final approval.
By Garry Boulard
