Program Evaluation Unit Reports

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Most Recent Program Evaluation Unit Publications:


Progress Report: Cost Effectiveness and Operations of the New Mexico Rail Runner Express, October 2024

The Rail Runner has had a strong comeback from its pandemic shutdown but additional increases will be hard in sparsely populated New Mexico and improvements that improve ridership are expensive.


Program Evaluation: Postsecondary Certificates, September 2024

New Mexico colleges are issuing more nondegree certificates than ever, but many certificates do little to help the recipients get better jobs or higher wages.


Policy Spotlight: State-Funded Water Projects, August 2024

Government entities across New Mexico are reporting $5.7 billion in future water and wastewater infrastructure needs, but the state’s piecemeal approach to funding water projects leads to idle dollars and unnecessary delays.


Performance Update: Bernalillo County Criminal Justice System Update, July 2024

The Legislature has appropriated more than three-quarters of a billion dollars over the past three years for in crime prevention approaches, but the impact has been limited.


Program Evaluation: Student Attendance and Performance, June 2024

More than 124 thousand New Mexico public school students missed more than 10 percent of school in 2023, putting those students at risk for struggling academically and eventually dropping out.


Policy Spotlight: Regional Recreation and Quality of Life Grants, May 2024

Despite the health and quality of life benefits of community recreational facilities, capital funding for these projects often comes second to other public safety and basic needs. However, a new grant program shows promise for more efficiently and effectively funding local recreation and quality of life projects.


Program Evaluation: Online Higher Education in New Mexico, April 2024

Four years after the pandemic spurred a surge in online higher education, online course-taking remains a substantial part of New Mexico higher education. In academic year 2022-23, 45 percent of New Mexico college credit hours were taken online, a 34 percent increase in online course-taking since academic year 2019-20.


Program Evaluation: Improving New Mexico’s Workforce Participation, April 2024

New Mexico needs about 40 thousand more residents between ages 20 and 54 working or looking for work to meet the national average for labor force participation.


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.