According to a UNM press release, the House Appropriations and Finance Committee approved a committee substitute for HB 2, or the general appropriations act, on a 12 to 5 vote during the state legislative session in Santa Fe, leading to cuts to some university departments across the state.
“There were no 11th-hour miracles for higher education, which has been nicked with a 0.4 percent cut to every general fund line item,” the release states. “As we reported on Tuesday, that adds up to a $1.39 million combined cut for UNM and HSC.”
Many committee members were upset about the cuts to higher education, according to the press release. Rep. Doreen Gallegos questioned how schools could be expected to improve in quality while meeting measurable outcomes when the funding to help them is cut.
According to the release, other committee members showed concern over the fact that non-recurring funds are blocking recurring lines.
Rep. Patty Lundstrom cautioned that whoever makes it through the elections to return next session would find a $52 million hole to fill, according to the press release.
The release quotes Chairman Larry Larranaga, noting those states dependent on oil and gas had to fight shortfalls, as saying, “For example, Oklahoma is short $1.5 billion, while North Dakota is down $1 billion.”
“HB 2 now heads to the full House for possible action Saturday,” according to the press release, “then it is on to the Senate, where Finance Committee chair John Arthur Smith has been talking about the need to raise or at least preserve revenues by stalling or reversing some planned tax cuts.”
Matthew Reisen is the news editor at the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @dailylobo.
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