SENATE MEMORIAL 6

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Pat Woods

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO CONVENE STAKEHOLDERS TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT AND OWNERSHIP AND EVALUATE FEDERAL REVENUE STREAMS' IMPACTS ON THE STATE, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND COMMUNITY ECONOMIES.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico encompasses approximately seventy-seven and one-half million acres of land; and

     WHEREAS, approximately thirty-five percent of New Mexico's land is federal land administered by agencies such as the bureau of land management, the United States forest service, the bureau of reclamation, the United States national park service, the United States army corps of engineers, national wildlife reserve areas, federal water resource development projects and military installations; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico and its counties depend on federal revenues to support vital state, county and local budgets, programs, services and operations; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico counties received thirty-seven million six hundred seventy-seven thousand nine hundred five dollars ($37,677,905) in payments in lieu of taxes (PILT) in 2014 to provide general fund revenue; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico received nine million five hundred twelve thousand six hundred ninety-two dollars ($9,512,692) in federal forest reserve payments in 2014 from the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (SRS); and

     WHEREAS, counties rely on federal funding through PILT and SRS to provide essential support for schools, road infrastructure, search and rescue operations, wildfire preparedness, county operations and other community services that protect the health, safety and welfare of New Mexico residents; and

     WHEREAS, federal funds are also distributed to county governments as a pass-through from state agencies for county infrastructure, economic development, wildfire prevention and response, energy and natural resource investments, emergency management, E911, health care and social programs; and

     WHEREAS, there is increasing uncertainty regarding the federal commitment to funding these vital county and state programs, which makes it difficult to budget for necessary services; and

     WHEREAS, there have been proposals for the state and counties to take a more active role in federal land management; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico and its counties have a vested interest in decisions on federal land management and natural resource exploration and development; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico and its counties need an evaluation of the legal, economic and practical framework surrounding federal land management;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the local government division of the department of finance and administration be requested to convene stakeholders to:

          A. study and make recommendations on the legal, economic and practical framework surrounding federal land management;

          B. conduct an inventory of federal land ownership within the state;

          C. evaluate state and county dependence on federal revenue streams; and

          D. consider not only state interests, but also the interests of local governments and community economies in any economic analysis; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that stakeholders include but not be limited to representatives from the New Mexico association of counties; the New Mexico municipal league; Native American pueblos, tribes, and nations; soil and water conservation districts; land grant entities; acequia associations; the New Mexico department of agriculture; and state and federal land management agencies; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of finance and administration.

- 4 -