Legislative Finance Committee

New Mexico has been facing a shortage of thousands of health care workers for years, and during a presentation to lawmakers last week, the Legislative Finance Committee said it will be even worse five years from now.

New Mexico’s Health Care Authority Secretary Kari Armijo presented an update on the state’s access to both physical and behavioral health care at a Legislative Finance Committee meeting in Taos on Wednesday. Despite an increase in the number of behavioral health providers and greater patient utilization, the state is seeing worse outcomes in a few areas.

On Thursday, the state interim Investments and Pensions Oversight Committee held their first meeting since this year's legislative session where they reviewed performance of state funds.

A nonprofit research firm says New Mexico doesn’t have enough funding in place to properly maintain and improve the state’s transportation system. What’s more, declining and deficient infrastructure is costing New Mexicans billions of dollars.

One of the largest general fund appropriations in the department’s history, the recommendation from the Legislative Finance Committee – which would be spread across three years – would bring aid for “species of greatest conservation need” with dwindling or threatened populations.

The Legislative Finance Committee released its recommendations ahead of the beginning of the session next week. They were close to a budget the Governor released last year.

In Santa Fe, state agencies galore made their case for a piece of the state’s expanding general fund this week as they presented budget requests. KUNM’s Daniel Montaño reports the state’s newest agency pitched a second year budget $3.1 billion more than its first year’s

Children, Youth, and Families Department Sec. Teresa Casados told lawmakers Tuesday that, while the department is improving, it needs more funding to make real progress.

Students across the U.S. are shifting away from traditional four-year college degrees, opting instead for post-secondary certificates. Over the last decade, New Mexico has seen a huge rise in enrollment in these types of programs, according to a new report.

The Children, Youth, and Families Department is embroiled in scandal that has left substantial frustration, especially as lawmakers questioned the department’s efficacy in the last legislative session. Wednesday Legislators heard updates on child maltreatment and workforce shortages and possible solutions to address these longstanding challenges.