House Signs off on Budget; Bill En Route to Gov’s Desk

A $5.6 billion spending plan for the upcoming year is on its way to Gov. Susana Martinez’s office after the House voted to concur with changes made to the legislation by the Senate.

Late last night, the Senate had approved the spending plan on a 34-6 vote (click here to see the bill and a roll call of both the House and Senate votes).

The budget bill calls for spending to be increased by $220 million — or about 4 percent — from this year’s levels. Most of that increased spending would go toward public schools and Medicaid.

It also leaves about $36 million unspent, which could then be used on tax breaks proposed by Martinez or for other causes. Such tax legislation would have to be approved separately before the Legislature wraps up its work Thursday at noon.

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