Albuquerque Journal

Voters May Get Schools Measure
By Dan Boyd, Journal Capitol Bureau

SANTA FE — Gov. Bill Richardson believes voters should decide whether the state should spend $354 million a year to implement a proposed new public school funding formula.
    Speaking at a Santa Fe elementary school, Richardson also said Tuesday that a state budget shortfall shouldn't stop the state from improving an outdated and unfair system.
    The governor, who's expected to be announced as the U.S. commerce secretary today, said he'll push during the legislative session next year for lawmakers to approve a constitutional amendment proposal on the new funding formula that would go before the voters.
    "I believe that the decision of New Mexico's future and where we put our priorities should be made by the voters, not just the governor and the Legislature," Richardson said. "I am confident the voters will support these needed investments in our children and our classrooms."
    Richardson, however, didn't say whether he favored a proposed 1 percent gross receipts tax increase to pay for the additional costs of the new funding formula, which would give more money to growing districts and areas with poor and at-risk students.
    The revised funding formula stalled in the Legislature's regular session this year due to questions about how the state would pay for it.
    Meanwhile, New Mexico is facing a budget shortfall this fiscal year that's expected to exceed $500 million, and Richardson has implemented a state hiring freeze and cut state spending by $114 million to address the economic troubles. He has, however, refused to include education in the cuts.
    On Tuesday, he fired a thinly veiled salvo at Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, who sent a letter to public school superintendents in October warning them to be ready for pared-back spending and possibly layoffs.
    "To those who think it's time to lay off teachers to balance the budget, I say you have no ally in Bill Richardson," the governor said.
    Funding for New Mexico's public schoolsy makes up nearly half of the state's recurring spending.
    Education Secretary Veronica Garcia said Richardson agreed to support the new funding formula only after he was assured the plan would be fiscally sound.
    If the funding formula isn't implemented, Garcia said, New Mexico could face lawsuits from districts that are already claiming the state isn't meetings its constitutional obligations. "I'm hoping it doesn't come to that," she said.
    Rep. Luciano "Lucky" Varela, D-Santa Fe, the Legislative Finance Committee's vice chairman, said that he favors letting voters decide the funding formula's fate and that the state's $600 million reserves could be one source of funding.
    Other education initiatives outlined by Richardson on Tuesday include:
    n A requirement that New Mexico students are in class for 180 days per year. Other school days, such as in-service training for teachers, would have to be in addition to those 180 days.
    n A stipulation that schools submit progress plans along with budget requests to show how funding is being used.