Lawmakers are discussing the General Appropriations Act for how to divide $9.4 billion in the state budget.
Some of the largest investments, according to a KOAT report, are more than $300 million in education, $164 million for behavioral health and child well-being and more than $200 million for health care and housing.
“It's important because it's relevant, and I think that's a big win,” state Rep. Cathrynn N. Brown said, according to KOAT. “Moving forward with that sort of financing where we’ve put budget priorities is really setting up New Mexicans.”
Brown, a Republican, and G. Andres Romero, a Democrat, are among those applauding the commitment to education, KOAT reported. There is an additional $1 billion appropriated for infrastructure and broadband improvement.
“We're making a huge investment in our families and our children for the future,” Romero told KOAT.
Yet, some lawmakers think the budget, up 12% from last year, needs fine-tuning, KOAT reported.
“I think we're putting some money in places where we probably don't need it,” Brown said, according to KOAT. “It's too big a spend, but we'll wait and see what the Senate does with that bill.”