NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used for other purposes.

 

The most recent FIR version (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) is available on the Legislative Website.  The Adobe PDF version includes all attachments, whereas the HTML version does not.  Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

 

 

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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Papen

 

DATE TYPED:

02/04/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

NMSU Water Management Research

 

SB

67

 

 

ANALYST:

Williams

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

$330.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to SB 66, HB 95

Companion to HB 96

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

New Mexico State University, Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI)

 

No Response Received

Office of State Engineer

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 67 appropriates $330.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University for research on water conservation, planning and management.

 

     Significant Issues

 

CHE notes NMSU submitted an expansion request of $330.0 for new water initiatives in addition to the request of $397.4 for continuation of current operations.  The water initiatives request was ranked by NMSU as #11 out of 13 research and public service requests submitted to CHE.  CHE notes its funding recommendation included $300.0 for water initiatives at WRRI. 

 

CHE notes four potential performance measures:

 

  1. Number of projects funded; total value of projects funded;
  2. Number of students receiving training;
  3. Number of NM WRRI publications, journal articles and graduate theses or dissertations;
  4. Interactions with agencies through funding, participation in conferences, technical symposiums, planning meetings; requests for information.

 

This is a Water and Natural Resources Committee-sponsored bill.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $330.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.  Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 04 shall revert to the general fund.

 

The LFC budget recommendation for WRRI is $349.2, down five percent from FY 03.

 

ALTERNATIVES

 

CHE notes the potential for the use of indirect cost revenues as alternative funding.

 

AW/sb