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

SPONSOR Harden

DATE TYPED 2-18-05

HB

SHORT TITLE Mesalands Community College Programs

SB 592

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 the Commission on Higher Education in the General Appropria-

tions Act.

Relates to HB45

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Mesalands Community College (MCC)

Responses Not Received From

New Mexico Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 592 – Making Appropriations for Mesalands Dinosaur Museum Programs and for the

Rodeo Program at Mesalands Community College – appropriates $322,000 from the general

fund to the Commission on Higher Education for expenditure in FY06 as follows:

•

$194,000 to support the intercollegiate rodeo program at Mesalands Community

College; and

•

$128,000 to support, market and expand programs for science and learning at the

Mesalands dinosaur museum in Tucumcari.

Senate Bill 592 -- 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.

Senate Bill 592 -- Page 3

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP OR RELATIONSHIP

Relates to the appropriation for the Commission on Higher Education in the General Appropria-

tions Act

Relates to HB45 in that HB45 seeks to appropriate appropriates $321,962 from the general fund

to the governing board of Mesa Technical College (now Mesalands Community College), for

expenditure 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 col-

lege.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

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/yr