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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Lujan, B
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
2-3-06
HB 657
SHORT TITLE
SANTA FE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT FIREFIGHTER
COSTS
SB
ANALYST Hadwiger
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY06
FY07
$58.3
Recurring
General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Relates to SB634, HB698, HB592.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 657 appropriates $58.3 thousand from the general fund to the Local Government Di-
vision (LGD) of the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) in FY07 for costs associ-
ated with five firefighters at the Santa Fe municipal airport, including salaries and benefits, train-
ing, personal protective firefighting gear, uniforms and fire station operating expenses.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $58.3 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general
fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY07 would revert to
the general fund.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
DFA noted that the principle objective of an airport rescue and fire fighting service is to save
lives in the event of an aircraft crash. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations man-
pg_0002
House Bill 657 – Page 2
date almost all aspects of emergency response at all airports, including vehicle response time and
readiness. Non-compliance with FAA regulations regarding fire safety could result in the loss of
the airport’s operating permit. Santa Fe Fire Department staff indicated to DFA that this legisla-
tion is particularly important because the Santa Fe airport is moving to a Class 1 designation with
expanded commercial flights. At this time the City of Santa Fe does not have the necessary
funds to do the necessary start up for this increased airport classification. This is viewed as an
urgent need by the City of Santa Fe. The Santa Fe Fire Department is in the process of getting
some necessary fire emergency equipment. It was also advised that the required FAA training
would have to be done out-of-state which will require some of the requested funding. Santa Fe
plans to assume responsibility for future funding for this fire protection operation. This is a start
up request only.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
DFA indicated it would prepare a memorandum of understanding to disperse these funds, so
there would be little administrative implications to that oversight.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
Relates to SB634, HB698, HB592 which provide appropriations for various costs related to fire-
fighting at the Santa Fe municipal airport.
DH/yr