The president of the Rio Grande Foundation has said that an analysis of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's budget proposal indicates a 73% increase over her term. He made this assertion in a December 16 post on X.

"We took a closer look at MLG's proposed record-breaking $10.9 billion budget which would be a 7% increase over last year," said Paul J Gessing. "If adopted it would represent a 73% increase over the span of MLG's time in office."

"We took a closer look at MLG's proposed record-breaking $10.9 billion budget which would be a 7% increase over last year. If adopted it would represent a 73% increase over the span of MLG's time in office," wrote Paul Gessing in his December 16 post on X.

Screenshot of Paul Gessing's Dec. 16 post on X | X

According to the analysis by the Rio Grande Foundation, from the 2019 fiscal year to the proposed 2026 fiscal year budget, general fund spending rose from $6.30 billion under Governor Lujan Grisham’s predecessor to $10.90 billion. The proposed 2026 fiscal year budget is a 7% increase over the previous year's budget but does not include tax cuts or rebates for citizens and business owners, despite an expected $13.6 billion in oil and gas revenues for 2026.

In her note accompanying the executive budget recommendation, Governor Lujan Grisham writes that "the total FY 2026 budget will put $33.14 billion to work for New Mexicans, while keeping our reserves at a reasonable 30%." She also highlights that the budget expands early childhood services, provides down payment assistance programs, and invests in infrastructure and other areas. The largest portion of the general fund is allocated to K-12 public education at $4,558,960,900, while legislative expenses are set at $46,155,900—the smallest expenditure. Public safety is allotted $580,947,500 according to the executive budget recommendation document.

The Rio Grande Foundation is an economic policy think tank based in Albuquerque. Founded in 2000 by Hal Stratton and Harry Messenheimer, Paul Gessing became its president in 2006. The organization aims to help every state thrive by promoting school choice and liberty in education while considering families' best interests as central to educational design.