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

SPONSOR Rodriguez

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/29/08

1/31/08 HB

SHORT TITLE Santa Fe 400

th

Anniversary Celebration

SB 473

ANALYST Propst

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$1,000.0

Non-recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Tourism Department (NMTD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill, Making an Appropriation to Fund Santa Fe’s 400

th

Anniversary Celebration,

appropriates $1.0 million from the general fund to DFA for the purpose Santa Fe’s 400

th

anniversary celebration.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $1.0 million contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY09 shall revert to the

general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

NMTD notes that nearly four centuries ago, Spanish settlers designated Santa Fe the capital city

of the territory we now know as New Mexico. When they arrived, they found a thriving Native

American culture, and for the last 400 years those cultures have served to enrich each other.

Santa Fe has long been heralded for its thriving arts community, as a world class travel

destination, and for its natural beauty.

Senate Bill 473 – Page

2

As the country’s oldest capital, Santa Fe has a special place in our American heritage and

continues to be one of the most historic and unique cities in the United States. As such, the

celebration o its 400

th

anniversary will draw national and international interest.

Santa Fe’s international attraction is that it offers a feeling of comfort not available in most

American cities. When Europeans travel they study the place they are to visit in advance, much

more than do Americans. When Englishmen come to Santa Fe, for example, they seem prepared.

And through that educational process, they are drawn to the architecture and the long and

winding history of Santa Fe. Even though that history is short compared to European standards,

it is very long compared to American standards. Many Germans that visit America make it a

point to visit the American Southwest in their travels. In fact, Germany is probably the biggest

international market for Native Americans. The common reaction of European writers and

leisure travelers is that Santa Fe is “comfortable" – not “bombastic" as are many American cities.

Santa Fe’s expected jump in its number of visitors over the next three years will extend beyond

its borders. Visitors to both Santa Fe’s Russian summer and Albuquerque’s Tri-centennial

traveled throughout New Mexico, helping benefit local economies statewide.

NMTD is supportive of activities and events that result in increasing the number of tourists to

New Mexico. The City of Santa Fe continues to be one of the top attractions that draw out-of-

state visitors to New Mexico.

The 400th anniversary celebration will begin in July 2008 and run through December 2010.

That’s almost two and one-half years of discovery, celebration and promotion of what is best

about Santa Fe. It’s going take organizations willing to provide their time and money — and

thousands of volunteers — to make this anniversary a source of community growth and strength.

The people of Santa Fe have already been working long and hard to capture the city's spirit,

imagination, and pride in advance of the anniversary. As the oldest European settlement west of

the Mississippi there is extensive ground to cover prior to this milestone. Plans have already

taken shape and much more is in process to mark the founding of one of America's most historic

and vibrant cities.

COMPANIONSHIP

Companion to HB 473

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The companion bill to SB 473 appropriates the funds to the Tourism Department instead of DFA.

WEP/mt:bb