Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they are used for other purposes.

 

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are available on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).  Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not.  Previously issued FIRs and attachments may also be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

 

 

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

 

 

 

SPONSOR

Martinez

DATE TYPED

1/26/04

HB

128

 

SHORT TITLE

Judicial Salary Increases

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST

Wilson

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY04

FY05

FY04

FY05

 

$1,957.7

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

 

Relates to Appropriation for judicial salaries in the General Appropriation Act

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

 

Responses Received From

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

Attorney General’s Office (AGO)

Juvenile Parole Board (JPB)

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 128 appropriates $1,957,660 from the general fund to the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) to provide justices of the supreme court with a salary increase to $110,000.  Salary increases will also be provided to the chief justice of the supreme court, the chief judge of the court of appeals, the judges of the court of appeals, district court judges, metropolitan court judges, magistrate judges, child support hearing officers and special commissioners.  The salary increases will be effective the first full pay period after July 1, 2004.  The bill represents an 11 percent increase for all judges.

 

Significant Issues

 

Judicial salaries nationwide are constantly changing, yet New Mexico judicial salaries are consistently listed as one of the lowest in the nation.  New Mexico currently ranks 54th when compared to judges in other state courts and judges in the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands.

 

The following charts illustrate the salaries of the highest courts in seven southwest states, regional averages, and salaries of federal judges and territorial judges:


                       

           

 

           

 

 

           

           

           

           

           

                       

                                   

           

           

           

           

 

If the salary increase is implemented, New Mexico’s ranking would move to approximately 40th within the 50 state region.  The AOC reports that in order to attract and retain the most qualified individuals to serve on the New Mexico bench, it is essential to pay them an appropriate salary.      

                                   

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $1,957.7 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2005.

 

The following chart illustrates the total fiscal impact of this bill:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

DFA can implement the salary increases in this bill with existing staff.

 

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