[1] NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

 

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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Gonzales

 

DATE TYPED:

02/07/02

 

HB

HJM 75

 

SHORT TITLE:

Kit Carson Home As NM State Monument

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Gonzales

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

 

 

 

 

 

See Narrative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

                                                                                                                                                           

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC Files

Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Joint Memorial 75 requests the Museum Division of the Office of Cultural Affairs to investigate the value to the state of making the Kit Carson home and museum a state monument and preserving this glimpse into the lives of people living in New Mexico in the mid-nineteenth century for generations to come.

 

     Significant Issues

 

The Cultural Properties Act, Sections 18-6-1 through 18-6-17 NMSA 1978 identifies the process for designating a cultural property as a state monument, which is the responsibility of the Cultural Properties Review Committee and the Board of Regents for the Museum of New Mexico.  Additionally, the Historic Preservation Division of OCA is funded to examine proposed properties to be designated as cultural properties.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

This memorial is requesting OCA to determine the value to the state of creating this new monument.  Creating a new state monument would need resources to operate the facility.  There would need to be a future appropriation if it is determined that a new state monument is beneficial to the state.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

The Kit Carson home was designated a national historic landmark in 1963 and is receiving assistance, both monitary and staff, from the National Park Service.

 

Currently, low staffing at the five existing monuments has hindered visitor services and resource protection.  Until additional resources are available, the Museum of New Mexico has closed four of five monuments one day a week.  Visitation and revenue have declined at four of the monuments since the one day closures went into effect July 1, 2001; however, it is not clear if the decline is due to the one-day closure or simply part of a downward trend.  Regarding the cost efficiency of adding resources to stay open and collect the associated revenue, the agency states no monument or museum will ever earn as much as it costs to run the facility.  With this realization, the Legislature needs to consider its policy for supporting these facilities.  In light of the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, and the decrease in tourism, the state needs to consider whether New Mexico is “overbuilding” its museums and monuments for the size of New Mexico’s population.

 

JMG/njw

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