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

SPONSOR Moore

DATE TYPED 02/01/05 HB 45

SHORT TITLE Mesa Technical College Programs

SB

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$322.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to the appropriation for Mesalands Community College in the General Appropriations

Act.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Mesalands Community College (MCC)

Responses Not Received From

New Mexico Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 45 – Making an Appropriation for Support of the Intercollegiate Rodeo Program and

the Archaeological Programs and Dinosaur Museum at Mesa Technical College – appropriates

$321,962 from the general fund to the governing board of Mesa Technical College, for expendi-

ture in FY06 as follows:

•

$194,059 to support the intercollegiate rodeo program at the college; and

•

$127,903 to support the archaeological programs and dinosaur museum at the college.

House Bill 45 -- Page 2

Significant Issues

MCC indicates that intercollegiate rodeo was introduced as the college’s first intercollegiate

sport in the fall semester of 1998. The MCC is a member of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo

Association and competes in the Southwest Region, which includes Eastern New Mexico and

West Texas. Both the men’s and women’s teams compete in rodeos in the fall and spring. Stu-

dents must meet national eligibility guidelines and be enrolled full-time in order to participate in

the college rodeos throughout the region. The top athletes from the region compete in the Col-

lege National Finals Rodeo in June of each year.

MCC further notes that the creation of the dinosaur museum is a strong, emerging facet of the

college’s goal of providing “quality community service programs responding to the diverse

needs of the region.” A significant result of that process has been the forging of a reciprocal

partnership between the college and the community in recognizing, owning, and promoting the

geographical region’s rich heritage as one of the earth’s premier deposits of fossilized ancient

life. To this end, a museum advisory committee was formed in 1997 and, in concert with the

college and the Mesalands Community College Foundation, launched a major capital campaign

to raise money to build the museum. In fall of 1997, the College launched the volunteer group

Fossil Friends, whereby members of the community were invited to participate in both the de-

velopment of the museum and its exhibits, and in collecting and cataloguing local fossils.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

MCC notes that the Dinosaur Museum Enhancement of Educational Services expansion item

meets the Public Agenda for New Mexico Higher Education as prescribed by the CHE and aligns

itself with the K-12 education and student success initiatives.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $321,962 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the gen-

eral fund.

While this request was approved by the MCC governing board and submitted to the CHE for re-

view, the program was not recommended for expansion by the CHE at this time.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

In its FY06 Summary of Program Change and Project Requests, MCC indicates these funds

would be applied as follows:

•

Intercollegiate Rodeo Program: 2 additional FTEs (1 coach; .5 assistant to the coach; .5

secretary)

•

Dinosaur Museum Enhancement of Educational Services: 2.75 additional FTEs (1.25

professional; 1.0 technician; .5 other)

MCC would retain oversight of the program.

House Bill 45 -- Page 3

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP OR RELATIONSHIP

Relates to the appropriation for Mesalands Community College in the General Appropriations

Act.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

On September 11, 2001

Mesa Technical College was renamed

Mesalands Community College.

MCC’s dinosaur museum opened in the spring of 2000. The facility houses exhibit space, class-

room, laboratory, storage, restrooms, museum shop, and offices for instructors. Natural science

degree programs with an emphasis in paleontology and geology are conducted in the facility.

The community has donated considerable time, energy, and material resources for remodeling

the facility and cataloging specimens. Individuals have also contributed numerous privately

owned fossils to the collection. Field research conducted by MCC’s natural sciences classes, has

unearthed three previously unknown life species in Quay County.

BFW/lg