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

SPONSOR King

DATE TYPED 2/7/2005 HB HJM 8

SHORT TITLE Create Cerrillos Hills State Park

SB

ANALYST Aguilar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

NFI

Indeterminate Recurring General fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Report of the Legislative Finance Committee to the Forty-Seventh Legislature, First Session,

January 2005. Volume 2 pages 186-187

Responses Received From

Energy, Mineral and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Joint Memorial 8 authorizes the State Parks Division of the Energy, Minerals and Natural

Resources Department, upon the acceptance of a favorable feasibility study and to the extent

funds are available, to enter into agreements with Santa Fe County to create Cerrillos Hills State

Park and to acquire land for the park.

Significant Issues:

The Cerrillos Hills Historic Park, open space owned by the County of Santa Fe, is a candidate for

state park status. Section 16-2-11 NMSA 1978 requires a feasibility study and legislative ap-

proval of any acquisition of land for state park purposes prior to the execution of a written

agreement binding the state to an expenditure of funds.

House Joint Memorial 8 -- Page 2

The County of Santa Fe is interested in a partnership with the State Parks Division to operate this

1,200-acre area as a state park. Federal lands in the area owned by the Bureau of Land Manage-

ment could also be incorporated into the park via an inter-agency agreement.

The State Parks Division has embarked on an aggressive strategy to expand the number of parks

statewide. The LFC has noted concern regarding the lack of adequate recurring funding for op-

erational costs at new and expanded state parks and has requested EMNRD provide a compre-

hensive plan on recurring funding needs.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

It is expected both recurring and non-recurring fiscal impacts would be involved in the acquisi-

tion and operation of this park. State Parks Division has estimated the long-term staffing and

operational needs at Cerrillos Hills at $120 thousand annually and non-recurring capital needs to

construct appropriate visitor facilities at $750.0. LFC considers both of the estimates to be low.

PA/njw