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

SPONSOR McCoy

DATE TYPED 3/12/05

HB HJR 14/aSRC

SHORT TITLE Repeal Albuquerque Bernalillo Merger, CA

SB

ANALYST Ford

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$40.0

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates

SJR 8

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SRC Amendment

The Senate Rules Committee amendment to House Joint Resolution 14 amends the title of the

resolution to indicate that the section proposed for amendment provides procedures for forming

an urban county.

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Joint Resolution 14 proposes to repeal Article 10, Section 11 of the state constitution,

which provides for the establishment of single urban governments. The effect would be to repeal

the authority of the county of Bernalillo and the city of Albuquerque to merge into a single urban

government. The proposed amendment is subject to voter approval.

Significant Issues

In November 2000, the state’s voters ratified an amendment to the state constitution that pro-

House Joint Resolution 14/aSRC -- Page 2

vided a process by which the county of Bernalillo and the municipalities within the county could

merge into a single urban county. The process requires submission of a proposed merger to the

affected voters. In 2003 and again in 2004, area voters rejected the proposed merger.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

House Joint Memorial 14 would result in costs to the Secretary of State to place the constitu-

tional amendment on the ballot. In 2004, an identical measure was introduced and the Secretary

of State estimated costs of $40 thousand to meet the necessary election procedures and require-

ments.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

House Joint Resolution 14 duplicates Senate Joint Resolution 8.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Given that voters in Bernalillo county must approve a merger before it can take place, is it neces-

sary to amend the state constitution. Or does the voter-approval requirement currently in the

constitution provide adequate safeguard against an unpopular merger.

EF/yr:rs