Pork projects top $3 billion

SANTA FE (KRQE) - Every year, lawmakers get the chance to request money for local projects for their districts, and this year is no different.

Legislators have asked for money for hundreds of projects, everything from building a little league field in Albuquerque's North Valley to constructing a sewer line at Elephant Butte. The total pricetag for all requested projects is more than $3 billion.

"Everyone wants to take a little pork back to their districts," said Rep. Andy Nunez, I-Hatch.

Capital outlay projects are funded by severance tax bonds, which are funds collected from natural resources extracted from New Mexico. This year, Sen. Carlos Cisneros, D-Questa, said $130 million will be available for local projects statewide.

"The list goes on and on," said Cisneros.

Part of the reason, according to several lawmakers, is because the state only funded statewide projects for the last four years.

"It's been quite awhile since we've been able to help our local entities," said Sen. Vernon Asbill, R-Carlsbad. "They depend on the local legislators to bring back some money if they can."

In the capital outlay bill introduced by Cisneros, about $30 million will be earmarked for the Paseo/I-25 interchange in Albuquerque.

Asbill admits the Paseo project might be a tough sell, especially to lawmakers outside the Albuquerque area.

"Just like the Railrunner," said Asbill. "Very few of my constituents have seen, much less ridden on the Railrunner. So it would be a similar argument for the Paseo interchange."

But others said the state is responsible for paying for the Paseo project because it is a public safety issue.

Either way, legislators agree that funding capital outlay projects is a top priority this session.

"It's an issue of jobs," said Cisneros. "It's an issue of putting people back to work."

Cisneros said legislators may also have another $134 million in general obligation bonds, or borrowed money based on property values in the state. That would go to fund libraries, senior centers and post-secondary institutes. But voters would have to approve that money in November.