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

SPONSOR Miera

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/19/08

HB 20

SHORT TITLE UNM Raza Planning Resource Center

SB

ANALYST Haug

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$100.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Higher Education Department (HED)

University of New Mexico (UNM)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 20 appropriates

$100.0

from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the

University of New Mexico for the Resource Center for Raza Planning.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $100.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any

unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2009 shall revert to the

general fund.

HED states that this request was submitted by the University of New Mexico for $100,000 to the

New Mexico Higher Education Department for review, but it is not included in the Department's

funding recommendation for FY09.

The HED’s evaluation table of FY09 Research and Public Service Projects provided to the LFC

classifies this project as a “would not oppose if funding available" project. Reasons for this

classification decision are not provided. (LFC Report 07-20, Higher Education Department

Review of Selected Research and Public Service Projects, January 12, 2008, Table 4, p76.)

House Bill 20 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

HED states that the purpose of the appropriation is to pay for the expansion of the Resource

Center for Raza Planning (RCRP). RCRP is a Center in the School of Architecture and Planning,

whose mission is to promote the sustainability and survivability of traditional communities in

New Mexico. It was formed to contribute to the community development efforts of the

traditional communities in New Mexico.

According to UNM, The Resource Center for Raza Planning is a UNM initiative that increases

the outreach of UNM to New Mexico communities and increases the accessibility of New

Mexico residents to the university’s School of Architecture and Planning. The Resource Center

for Raza Planning is a service-learning program that has effectively provided access to UNM

services and expertise to improve the quality of life for New Mexico communities. Through

RCRP UNM graduate students:

•

Acquire hands-on community development skills and experience through various real

world projects

•

Gain in-depth knowledge of planning issues affecting local traditional communities in

New Mexico

•

Work with a team of planning faculty and other planning students dedicated to improving

the quality of life of New Mexico residents

Further, UNM states that over the next five years, the Resource Center for Raza Planning will

create structural linkages between UNM programs and New Mexico communities that provide

technical support for both, conduct student recruitment campaigns, develop effective interfaces

between UNM’s many programs, and build the capacity of New Mexico residents in the

professions of Architecture and Planning.

UNM says that the Resource Center for Raza Planning utilizes community service as a vehicle to

enhance the academic experience and ensure the successful completion of students’ academic

goals. Through RCRP, students have performed valuable, significant, and necessary service that

has direct and clearly identifiable benefits to local communities. Projects are in the realm of

economic policy and development; sector planning; infrastructure development including water,

sewer, drainage and road improvements; site designs; community impact assessments; surveys;

youth curriculum; and facilitating public participation processes.

In addition UNM states that students utilize RCRP to gain experience as professionals and as

citizens of their communities. Approximately forty (43) students that have worked for RCRP

have gone on to work professionally in various fields including local, state and federal

government positions, and various non-profit organizations. RCRP has employed an additional

25 students to help with organizing work and door-to-door surveys. RCRP also utilizes many

volunteers to help with specific tasks.

GH/mt