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

SPONSOR Morales

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/22/08

HB

SHORT TITLE WNMU Economic Development Course

SB 75

ANALYST Cox

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$200.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico Higher Education Department - HED

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 74 appropriates $200,000 (two hundred thousand dollars) from the general fund to

the Board of Regents of Western New Mexico University to plan and implement a basic

economic development course in the Republic of Mexico. The basic course would be

internationally accredited.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) 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.

This request was submitted by WNMU to the New Mexico Higher Education Department for

review but is not included in the Departmental 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 “does not fit within HED priorities for Higher Education" 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,

p74.)

Senate Bill 75 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Higher Education Department states that:

•

This appropriation is for planning and implementation of this course in Mexico. Funds

will be utilized for marketing, travel, hiring instructors/translators and materials.

•

Plans include one week intensive training courses in economic development in each of 11

communities in Mexico. This course is a requirement for professionals who want to

become certified economic developers through the national accrediting agency, the

International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Attendees will include

community and economic development professionals, Chamber of Commerce and

economic development volunteers, government officials, and anyone else interested in

assisting the economy of their community.

•

The Mexico Basic Economic Development Course is designed for four main audience

groups in Mexico;

1. Economic developers who are new to the profession.

2. Community leaders whose active participation in local economic development

necessitates formalized learning about the process and practice of economic

development.

3. Various economic development personnel, such as bankers, public utility personnel,

port commission staff, and employees of institutions of higher education; and

4. existing economic development and community development professionals who want

to supplement their formal learning and experience in the field.

The course will be bilingual; that is, simultaneous translation will be available to take advantage

of the expertise of both Spanish and English speaking presenters. One of the goals of the course

is to provide opportunities for attendees to expand their network of professional colleagues.

PRC/mt