On the Table

Pueblos Get U.S. Bond Money

Santa Clara and Isleta pueblos will receive more than $22 million each and Acoma Pueblo will receive more than $8 million from bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury. The three pueblos were among 58 tribes that will receive a total of $1 billion from the bond proceeds. Santa Clara and Isleta plan to use the money for tourism facilities. Isleta plans to use its money for a steel manufacturing facility.

Property Values Up but Bond Capacity Uncertain

Assessed property values were up 7.9 percent in 2009 compared with 2008 but the increase might not turn into greater bond capacity. Property taxes are used to pay back general obligation bonds and higher property values generally mean greater bonding capacity. However, a district court recently ruled as unconstitutional a state law allowing property values to jump when a house is sold. Also, the oil and gas property share of the value, up 24.3 percent this year, is expected to drop to almost half next year because of falling energy prices.

New Mexico Unemployment Up

New Mexico’s August unemployment rate was 7.5 percent compared with 4.3 percent a year ago and 7 percent in July.

Road Fund Revenue Off

Revenue in the unrestricted road fund for FY09 was 6 percent below the figure used in the budget and 4 percent down from FY08. The balance in August was negative $49 million and the fund is effectively borrowing from the local government road fund, state infrastructure bank and other restricted transportation accounts.

Universities Gain Access to Supercomputer

Forty-four organizations, mostly colleges and universities, will soon have access to the state’s supercomputer. The Computing Application Center through the Department of Information and Technology signed a price agreement with Insors Integrated Communication Inc. for $2 million in computer gateways to access the computer. The gateways are to be delivered over a 15 week period starting in mid-September.

Transitions

Lou Helwig, deputy secretary of the Veterans’ Services Department, has resigned. He had worked on veterans’ issues on the state and federal level for 30 years.

Tom Baca, aviation director for the Department of Transportation, has retired. He will be replaced by David Ploeger, the Los Alamos airport manager.

Norman Assad has resigned as the district 3 commission on the State Transportation Commission.

The governor has named Marc Prelo to the Gaming Control Board. Prelo has served as an assistant N.M. attorney general and attorney for the villages of Ruidoso and Capitan.

Kimberly Austin-Oser is the new director of the Long-Term Services Program at the Aging and Long-Term Services Department. She replaced Doyle Smith, who retired after 26 years with the state.

Mary McCoy has been appointed the chief financial officer for the Livestock Board. She previously served as a budget analyst at DFA.

Sandra Haug has retired as administrative services director of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.