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 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	Taylor JG		DATE TYPED	2/6/04		HB	HJR 9
SHORT TITLE		Repeal Albuquerque-Bernalillo Merger, CA				SB
					ANALYST		Johnson

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
				See Narrative

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Finance and Administration

Office of the Secretary of State

No Response Received From

Taxation and Revenue Department

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Joint Resolution 9 proposes to amend the constitution of New Mexico by repealing Article 10, Section 11, which provides for the establishment of single urban governments. The constitutional amendment proposed by HJR9 would be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection by an election.

At present the only entity that exists as a single urban governmental entity is Los Alamos County. It is not known whether any other areas of the state besides the city of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County are considering this form of government.

Significant Issues

The department of finance and administration provided the following:

HJR 9 repeals state constitutional procedures that would allow for the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County to merge into a single urban governmental entity. An attempt to merge the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County failed in a September 2003 election. The next opportunity to request a merger from registered voters would be 2005. However, passage of this resolution and subsequent voter approval would eliminate the opportunity for the city of Albuquerque and Bernalillo county and any other local governmental entities to merge into a single urban governmental entity.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The Secretary of State office provided the following:

Passage of the resolution would require preparation of a ballot with Spanish and Native American translations, printing in one newspaper per county, running radio ads and printing of a general election voter guide at an estimated cost of about $40,000.

COMPANIONSHIP RELATIONSHIP

SB 62 limits all mailed ballot elections to elections that reorganize local governments. SB 62 is in response to the failed November 2003 election to merge the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.

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