New Mexico will spend more money on public education, early childhood services, plus business subsidies and incentives starting next month thanks to a $7.4 billion budget signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham earlier this month.
State Sen. Katy Duhigg (D-Albuquerque) praised the budget on social media and highlighted the positive impacts that could come from the multimillion dollar boost to the New Mexico Human Services budget.
"Investing in New Mexico means investing in its people," Duhigg tweeted. "The $30.7 million increase in the Human Services budget to support mental health and substance abuse disorders is crucial to helping New Mexicans get back on track after the pandemic."
The $30.7 million budget infusion to the Human Services Department will reportedly expand the state's mental health and substance abuse services, critically needed as New Mexicans emerge out of the COVID-19 pandemic, KVIA News reported.
The budget also included a 1.5% raise for public school and higher-education staff, state employees, social workers and front-line health workers, as outlined by KVIA. Overall general fund spending for the fiscal year beginning July 1 rose by 5%.
According to KVIA, Grisham referred to the budget as "responsible and responsive to the needs of New Mexicans."
