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

SPONSOR Varela

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/29/07

HB 226

SHORT TITLE

Santa Fe Fiesta

SB

ANALYST Earnest

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$100.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

NM Tourism Department (NMTD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 226 appropriates $100 thousand from the general fund to the Tourism Department to

plan, promote, and conduct the Santa Fe fiesta.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $100 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2008 shall

revert to the general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The Santa Fe Fiesta traces its roots to a 1712 proclamation establishing the first Fiesta de Santa

Fe. La Fiesta de Santa Fe is organized each year by the Santa Fe Fiesta Council. The Santa Fe

Fiesta Council is a volunteer organization created by the original proclamation and including 100

members plus representatives of 20 civic organizations and businesses. Events include the Fiesta

Queen and her Court, a reenactment of the entry of Don Diego de Vargas and his 17-member

House Bill 226 – Page

2

retinue, two parades, dancing, singing, arts and crafts, and religious processions. La Fiesta begins

the Thursday after Labor Day, with the burning of Zozobra (Old Man Gloom), the most

distinctively Anglo contribution to the more than 290-year-old celebration. Festivities continue

throughout the weekend with a children’s pet parade, a historical/hysterical parade, regional food

and more.

September 2007 will mark the 295

th

consecutive Santa Fe Fiesta. The activities of the Fiesta are

an important part of Santa Fe’s attraction for tourists. Fiesta offers tourists, as well as New

Mexicans from other parts of the state, a compelling reason to visit Northern New Mexico.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

According to NMTD, the Santa Fe Fiesta increases tourism to the state, thus positively affecting

key performance measures for the department, such as the domestic tourism market share, the

percent increase in lodger’s tax and the economic impact of tourism in the state of New Mexico.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

None identified.

BE/nt