Breaking: $5.6 Billion Budget Gets Green Light in Senate

The Senate voted 34-6 in a late-night vote to approve a $5.6 billion spending plan for the upcoming year. In its current form, the budget features spending increases for public schools, Medicaid and other cash-strapped state agencies starting July 1.

The House of Representatives already passed the budget last week on a 70-0 vote. However, since the Senate made minor changes to the legislation, it must now go back to the House for review.

If the House signs off on the changes, the bill would then move to Gov. Susana Martinez’s desk for final approval.

Following three straight years of recession-caused budget cuts, the spending plan approved by the Senate would increase state spending by about $220 million — or about 4 percent — from this year’s levels.

The proposal also leaves about $36 million in unspent money that could be used to pay for tax breaks recommended by Martinez, or for something else.

Once the budget lands on Martinez’s desk, the governor will have until March 7 to sign, veto or make line-item vetoes to the legislation.