New Mexico Central

Senator Beffort Provides Legislative Update

by John Weckerle

At the Estancia Basin Resource Association (EBRA) annual meeting Saturday, Senator Sue Wilson Beffort provided an update on developments occurring during this legislative session.

Ms. Beffort, who sits on the Senate Finance Committee, indicated that, as currently predicted, expenditures would outweigh tax revenues by $454 million over the next fiscal year, and that number could swell to over $1 billion by next fiscal year.  Because the state cannot indulge in deficite spending, Ms. Beffort indicated that some programs may see reductions in funding.  According to the Senator, some water programs – which have seen substantial spending in recent years – may be reduced this year.  Ms. Beffort indicated that funding in some programs had gone to technologies that “didn’t work,” and that the Finance Committee would be examining that issue this session.  Ms. Beffort also indicated that the Senate Finance Committee was proceeding carefully to ensure that key priorities, such as education, forest management, and people relying on public assistance would not be severely impacted.  Ms. Beffort also referenced 416 appointed positions recently created by the Richardson administration, suggesting that expenditures needed to support those positions would be a topic of discussion.

Ms. Beffort also discussed several bills coming before the legislature this year:

• A bill to revise worker’s compensation in New Mexico, according to Ms. Beffort, would include seasonal agricultural workers.  Ms. Beffort opposes the bill.  She indicated that, in cases where a seasonal agricultural employee worked for several farms, claims for an injury would not be assessed against the farm on which the worker was injured only, but could be spread out to all the farms on which the worker was employed.
• Ms. Beffort also indicated her opposition to a bill to revise corporate income tax requirements.  Under current practice, according to Ms. Beffort, businesses are not required to make their first quarterly tax payment until six months into the fiscal year.  The change would require businesses to make payment at the end of the first quarter – a time when Federal taxes are due.  If businesses are unable to pay at the first quarter time, they would be subject to penalties and interest.
• Ms. Beffort also opposes a bill to expand the funding for the Taxation and Revenue Department by $8 million to hire more auditors.  She expressed concern regarding the timing of the bill and the effect on businesses during the economic crisis, and noted that the department had been given money to add auditors in the past.  She is, rather, sponsoring a competing bill that would provide for “taxpayer amnesty” to give businesses a chance to come forward, self-report unpaid taxes, and avoid penalties and interest.
• A water banking bill, which Ms. Beffort supports, will also likely be considered this session.  Other bills under consideration are associated with water quality and eminent domain.

Monday, January 26th, 2009, by John Weckerle and is filed under "Estancia Valley, Water Resources ". You can leave a response here. Pinging is currently not allowed.