Dire Budget Problems May Mean Less School Days (NM)

November 12, 2010

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New Mexico legislators said that thestate’s money problems are so bad that schools might need to cut back on thenumber of days that students go to school.

In the meantime, a coalition ofteachers and New Mexico school board members said that they want the budget foreducation bumped back up to $2.5 billion during the next couple of years.

Some legislators told KOAT Action 7News that there is a no chance of that happening, saying that there just mightbe less days of school.

Representatives for the coalitionsaid that some ideas to raise money would be to bump new car excise taxes upfrom three to five percent, increase gross receipts taxes, close corporateloopholes and roll back tax rebates for the wealthiest New Mexicans.

Rep. Dennis Roch and Governor-electSusana Martinez have promised no tax increases.

Rep. Rick Miera said that, no matterwhat, education is going to take a hit.

"There is no new money comingin, and if there were new moneys, then they are far away from this year. Weneed to fix this year’s budget this year with this year’s money," he said.

Miera said that this year’s budgetcuts are unavoidable and the reality is that kids will feel the effects intheir classrooms.

Some representatives said that thecoalition’s proposed tax increases might not raise enough money even if theywere put into affect.

Educatorssaid that roughly 1,500 education jobs have been lost during the past twoyears.