Re: NM Capital Outlay Bill Passes - $400,000 for C&TS

Dick Cowles Wrote:
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> Whew! In the special session of the NM Legislature
> just completed, the Capital Outlays bill (HB 5)
> passed both houses. The bill includes an
> appropriation of $400,000 for "trackwork
> rehabilitation and improvements" for the C&TS. Now
> it's off to the Governor who is likely to keep the
> C&TS funding intact because he originally
> requested $1 million for the railroad.
>
> There are two fair questions that one can raise:
> the first is whether the money is restricted just
> to trackwork? Probably not because similar
> language in past appropriations has been
> interpreted broadly.
>
> The second question is why the cut from $1 million
> to $400,000? Clearly, the state is in a real
> budget squeeze, but the Commission's difficult
> meeting in Santa Fe, which was much publicized,
> didn't help. If long-time lobbyist and former
> Commissioner Carl Turner were still alive you can
> bet he would have handled the situation
> differently and kept any controversy under wraps
> until after any money bills were signed into law.
>
> In addition to the $400,000, the railroad also
> received a slightly reduced appropriation of
> $94,000 toward the operation of the Commission's
> office (down from $100,000 in the recent past).


Thanks for the information Mr. Cowles.