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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Begaye

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/18/07

HB 1243

SHORT TITLE Farmington Indian Center Cultural Activities

SB

ANALYST Propst

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$50.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 1243 appropriates $50.0 for culturally relevant and education oriented activities and

events at the Farmington Indian Center.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $50.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General Fund. Any

unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY08 shall revert to the General

Fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The Farmington Indian Center is owned, operated and funded by the City of Farmington.

Currently the budget of $13.0 for the Farmington Indian Center only allows an average of one

(1) major event per year. This appropriation will significantly increase the activities for this

community by up to five additional events per month. The activities currently organized through

this facility include: Keshjee' (Winter Shoe Game); Navajo Language Class; Art Class; Annual

Indian Market and Festival (this largest program takes over 1/2 of the annual budget); honoring

House Bill 1243 – Page

2

All Veterans" Gourd Dance; Fall Navajo Song and Dance; Spring Mini-Contest PowWow; and,

Miss Indian Farmington Contest.

The Farmington Indian Center currently partners with the San Juan Partnership for Affordable

Housing to assist local Indian families find housing and help them through the maze of

paperwork often associated with obtaining the housing. The Center also partners with the local

Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous organizations and provides a safe,

comfortable meeting place for their weekly sessions.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The appropriation allows for administration through the Local Government Division,

Department of Finance and Administration; however the Department of Indian Affairs (DIA) is

the agency in charge of legislative grants for all Native American areas. It is recommended that

language on the bill be changed to appropriate the funds to DIA.

WEP/mt