NM Withdraws from Climate Group

New Mexico is among six states that has withdrawn from the Western Climate Initiative, a group formed in 2007 with the goal of reducing regional greenhouse gas emissions to 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. The group focused on cap-and-trade and began a multi-year process of designing a regional system for trading credits. Arizona, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington have all withdrawn from the initiative. California, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec are still members.

Lottery Deposit Down by Half Million

The New Mexico Lottery Authority transferred $3.2 million in lottery proceeds to the scholarship fund in October 2011, bringing the total for July through October to $12.6 million, about $500,000 less than this time last year.

Superintendent Faces Suspension

The Public Education Department has warned the superintendent of Central Consolidated Schools in northwest New Mexico that he will face suspension unless he addresses management issues in his district. State officials say they are concerned about allegations that Don Levinski initially acted as superintendent without a contract, has censored public comment at open meetings, and has made questionable personnel decisions, including allowing board members to participate in job interviews.

NM Drug Overdose Deaths Up

Drug overdose death rates in New Mexico were up slightly in 2010 compared with 2009 but lower than they were in 2008, when the New Mexico rate was more than twice the national average, the Department of Health reports. The 2010 rate was 22.4 percent. The rate in 2009 was 20.1 percent, and the rate in 2008 was 24.9 percent. The national average in 2008, the most recent year for national figures in the report, was 11.9 percent.

Oil Prices Up

Oil prices averaged $81.38 per barrel in August, roughly 12 percent or $9 per barrel higher than the same month last year. Each dollar per barrel increase in the price of oil translates into about $4 million in revenue for the state.

Employment Up Less than Half Percent

October nonfarm employment for New Mexico was up 0.2 percent from September. Year-over-year employment was up by 0.6 percent. Construction employment saw the largest monthly increase followed by the government sector. Retail services suffered the largest decrease from September to October.

Transitions

Gino Rinaldi, formerly with Sandoval County, is the new deputy secretary of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department.

Ryan Gleason, formerly a U.S. Department of Agriculture rural development director and the data and research manager for Rio Rancho Economic Development Corporation, is the new director of the Local Government Division of the Department of Finance and Administration.