Editorial: Quit paying folks to leave

Since 2009, Rep. William Rehm, R-Albuquerque, has tried to clip the strings of taxpayer-funded golden parachutes. This legislative session he worked with Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto, D-Albuquerque, to come up with a bipartisan version that gives public employers a choice that at least tightens them:

Do you want to give the employee a contract term longer than two years? Or

Do you want to give them a buyout clause?

It’s an either-or compromise that’s a step toward better stewardship of public funds. After all, New Mexico taxpayers have watched as checks have been handed to New Mexico State University President Barbara Couture ($453,000), University of New Mexico President Louis Caldera ($713,000), Highlands University President Manny Aragon ($200,000), and Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Brad Allison $350,000, among others.

Yet the House Labor and Human Relations Committee has unanimously tabled HB 251, concerned that such language won’t allow the state to compete for top-tier candidates. In the words of House Speaker Ken Martinez, D-Grants, “in order to have a national league college, you have to compete with everyone else out there.”

It really shouldn’t be asking too much of prospective high-profile public employees to pick either a long-term commitment from New Mexico or a guaranteed payday if things go badly.

But asking the public simply to keep picking up the tab for these buyouts is.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.