To: The New Mexico State House, The New Mexico State Senate, and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
Move New Mexico Out of Poverty
New Mexico sits at the bottom of almost every well-being list, including in child poverty and education, yet our State’s Legislators and our Governor are sitting on $4.5 BILLION DOLLARS in your tax dollars they could have spent to kickstart New Mexico’s economy. Tell them it’s time to get off the dime and show us you care about New Mexico!
Why is this important?
What’s the matter with New Mexico?
While the Governor and the Legislature bicker over a $213 million capital outlay bill and $45 million in road projects, New Mexico’s State Auditor reports that therre is $4.5 BILLION DOLLARS in funds approved in previous years that were never spent. Meanwhile, check out New Mexico’s disgraceful standing as perhaps the worst or near-worst state to live in:
What’s the matter with New Mexico? POVERTY
New Mexico has the second-worst poverty rate in the nation, with 16.60 percent of families and 21.5 percent of individuals living below the poverty level. Poverty rates for the entire country in 2011 were 11.7 percent for families and 15.9 percent for all individuals. Only Mississippi has worse rates in both categories — 17.40 percent and 22.60 percent, respectively.
What’s the matter with New Mexico? CHILDHOOD WELL-BEING
New Mexico was 49th in the nation for children's well-being in 2014 — Poverty rates among New Mexico's children, however, actually rose, even as they fell nationwide. In 2013, 28 percent of New Mexico children lived in poverty. In 2014, the rate climbed to 31 percent.
What’s the matter with New Mexico? MORE POVERTY
All 50 states saw a drop in middle class households since the turn of the millennium. But it's especially bad for the Land of Enchantment. New Mexico's 2013 median income was $43,872, a drop from $47,035 in 2000 when adjusted for inflation.
For perspective's sake, Texas' 2013 median income ranked at $51,704; Colorado's was $58,823; Utah's was $59,770 and Arizona's was $48,510. It's also worth noting that each of New Mexico's neighboring states' share of middle class sit between 45 percent and 52 percent of all households—which are all higher that New Mexico.
What’s the matter with New Mexico? WORST IN EDUCATION
New Mexico came in dead last in a report card that measures education performance across the nation. The annual Quality Counts Report from the Education Research Center gave New Mexico a D+ when it comes to a student's chance for success. The index measures the role of education in a person's life from cradle to career.
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH NEW MEXICO WHEN WE HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS?
A New Mexico State Auditor’s report, titled ‘Money on the Sidelines, by the Government Accountability Office shows state agencies have $4.5 billion of unspent public dollars, including:
• $2 billion resided in incomplete capital outlay projects and $1 billion in funds for road and water projects primarily in the New Mexico Finance Authority and the Environment Department.
• $738 million for water projects in various state agencies’ funds.
• $503 million was for restricted special funds ranging from the Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) to Medicaid fund surpluses.
• $42 million for education projects within funds at the Public Education Department and the Public School Facilities Authority.
• $30 million in state agencies’ operational general funds.
What’s the matter with New Mexico?
While the Governor and the Legislature bicker over a $213 million capital outlay bill and $45 million in road projects, New Mexico’s State Auditor reports that therre is $4.5 BILLION DOLLARS in funds approved in previous years that were never spent. Meanwhile, check out New Mexico’s disgraceful standing as perhaps the worst or near-worst state to live in:
What’s the matter with New Mexico? POVERTY
New Mexico has the second-worst poverty rate in the nation, with 16.60 percent of families and 21.5 percent of individuals living below the poverty level. Poverty rates for the entire country in 2011 were 11.7 percent for families and 15.9 percent for all individuals. Only Mississippi has worse rates in both categories — 17.40 percent and 22.60 percent, respectively.
What’s the matter with New Mexico? CHILDHOOD WELL-BEING
New Mexico was 49th in the nation for children's well-being in 2014 — Poverty rates among New Mexico's children, however, actually rose, even as they fell nationwide. In 2013, 28 percent of New Mexico children lived in poverty. In 2014, the rate climbed to 31 percent.
What’s the matter with New Mexico? MORE POVERTY
All 50 states saw a drop in middle class households since the turn of the millennium. But it's especially bad for the Land of Enchantment. New Mexico's 2013 median income was $43,872, a drop from $47,035 in 2000 when adjusted for inflation.
For perspective's sake, Texas' 2013 median income ranked at $51,704; Colorado's was $58,823; Utah's was $59,770 and Arizona's was $48,510. It's also worth noting that each of New Mexico's neighboring states' share of middle class sit between 45 percent and 52 percent of all households—which are all higher that New Mexico.
What’s the matter with New Mexico? WORST IN EDUCATION
New Mexico came in dead last in a report card that measures education performance across the nation. The annual Quality Counts Report from the Education Research Center gave New Mexico a D+ when it comes to a student's chance for success. The index measures the role of education in a person's life from cradle to career.
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH NEW MEXICO WHEN WE HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS?
A New Mexico State Auditor’s report, titled ‘Money on the Sidelines, by the Government Accountability Office shows state agencies have $4.5 billion of unspent public dollars, including:
• $2 billion resided in incomplete capital outlay projects and $1 billion in funds for road and water projects primarily in the New Mexico Finance Authority and the Environment Department.
• $738 million for water projects in various state agencies’ funds.
• $503 million was for restricted special funds ranging from the Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) to Medicaid fund surpluses.
• $42 million for education projects within funds at the Public Education Department and the Public School Facilities Authority.
• $30 million in state agencies’ operational general funds.
What’s the matter with New Mexico?