Program Evaluation Unit Reports

The Program Evaluation Unit conducts systematic assessments of state government spending and program activities. Publications range from in-depth program evaluations to data-focused cost benefit assessments to policy spotlights on trending topics. For more information: What to Expect During a Program Evaluation.

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Interactive Data Reports

Evaluation Recommendation Tracker
New Mexico Student Proficiency Dashboard
Government Results and Opportunity Fund
Local Government Finances
Medicaid-Covered Behavioral Health Utilization
PIVOT Evidence-Based Program Inventory

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Most Recent Program Evaluation Unit Publications:

Evaluation Brief: Information Technology Procurement, Implementation and Oversight Best Practices, October 2026 The four largest ongoing IT projects in the state are expected to run almost half a billion dollars over their original budgets, report, but changes in IT spending and project management could lead to lower costs and more successful projects.

Progress Report: Office of Inspector General and Internal Audit Functions, October 2026 New Mexico lacks statewide requirements for internal audit and inspector general functions in state agencies, and professional standards, independence safeguards, recommendation follow-up, and public transparency remain inconsistent across agencies.

Nonrecurring Appropriations for Housing More housing is being built in New Mexico, but the state’s nearly three-quarter billion dollar contribution to housing availability has had a limited impact and system changes might be needed to make a difference.

Progress Report: New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange, August 2026 New Mexico subsidizes health insurance purchased through the exchange at higher rates and for more buyers than most states but may need to consider cost-containment measures to sustain the fund that supports the subsidies.

Policy Spotlight: Industrial Revenue Bonds, July 2026 Both the number and value of industrial revenue bonds (IRBs) issued by local governments have increased multifold over the last 25 years, but neither the state nor local governments require sufficient reporting on IRBs to determine whether that trade-off pays off.

Program Evaluation: SNAP Administration and Performance, June 2026 Shortcomings in the state’s administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could cost New Mexico $173 million in federal funding.

Program Evaluation: Emergency Orders, June 2026 The number of emergency orders issued by the governor almost doubled between 2024 and 2025, while the amount of authorized spending was more than twice as high, increasing by $160 million in the same year.

Progress Report: Instructional Time and Extended Learning Opportunities in Public Schools, June 2026 New Mexico has spent $2.6 billion to increase learning time in public schools since a state court ruled the approach should be expanded, but scheduled instructional time has increased little.

Evaluation Brief: Information Technology Procurement, Implementation and Oversight Best Practices, October 2026

The four largest ongoing IT projects in the state are expected to run almost half a billion dollars over their original budgets, report, but changes in IT spending and project management could lead to lower costs and more successful projects.

Progress Report: Office of Inspector General and Internal Audit Functions, October 2026

New Mexico lacks statewide requirements for internal audit and inspector general functions in state agencies, and professional standards, independence safeguards, recommendation follow-up, and public transparency remain inconsistent across agencies.

Nonrecurring Appropriations for Housing

More housing is being built in New Mexico, but the state’s nearly three-quarter billion dollar contribution to housing availability has had a limited impact and system changes might be needed to make a difference.

Progress Report: New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange, August 2026

New Mexico subsidizes health insurance purchased through the exchange at higher rates and for more buyers than most states but may need to consider cost-containment measures to sustain the fund that supports the subsidies.

Policy Spotlight: Industrial Revenue Bonds, July 2026

Both the number and value of industrial revenue bonds (IRBs) issued by local governments have increased multifold over the last 25 years, but neither the state nor local governments require sufficient reporting on IRBs to determine whether that trade-off pays off.

Program Evaluation: SNAP Administration and Performance, June 2026

Shortcomings in the state’s administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could cost New Mexico $173 million in federal funding.

Program Evaluation: Emergency Orders, June 2026

The number of emergency orders issued by the governor almost doubled between 2024 and 2025, while the amount of authorized spending was more than twice as high, increasing by $160 million in the same year.

Progress Report: Instructional Time and Extended Learning Opportunities in Public Schools, June 2026

New Mexico has spent $2.6 billion to increase learning time in public schools since a state court ruled the approach should be expanded, but scheduled instructional time has increased little.

For more information:

The Program Evaluation Unit produces a variety of research reports that take a close look at the efficiency and effectiveness of state services and programs.

Finance Facts are one-page explanations of a specific aspect of state government, from how the budget bill is created to a summary of early childhood programs.

Session publications include the three volumes of the committee’s annual recommendation to the Legislature – policy and performance analysis, proposed appropriations, and supplemental tables and graphs – and the post-session review of legislative action.