NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.



The LFC is only preparing FIRs on bills referred to the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Ways and Means Committee, the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. The chief clerks are responsible for preparing and issuing all other bill analyses.



Only the most recent FIR version, excluding attachments, is available on the Intranet. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC office in Room 416 of the State Capitol Building.





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





SPONSOR: Lujan DATE TYPED: 2/3/99 HB 260
SHORT TITLE: Acequia & Community Ditch Fund SB
ANALYST: Pacheco-Perez


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY99 FY2000 FY99 FY2000
$ 700.0 Recurring GF



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



This bill appropriates $700.0 to the acequia and community ditch fund for the purpose of providing assistance to acequia and community ditch associations involved in the adjudication process. No more than 5% may be expended by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) for administrative costs incurred in the administration of the fund.



Significant Issues



According to the CHE, the project proposed in this bill was not included in the list of eleven special project requests made by the institution.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The appropriation of $700.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY00 shall revert to the general fund.





ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



Five percent of the total appropriation made in this bill may be used by the NMDA for administration of the fund.



OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES



According to the CHE, the state higher education funding formula allows institutions to retain 100% of earned overhead on federal grants and contracts for the purpose of providing seed money and matching funds for projects such as that proposed in this bill.



According to the NMDA, New Mexico citizens stand to lose water rights if funds are not provided for adjudications. In 1997, the grantees requested approximately $839,000, approximately $589,000 more than was appropriated. In 1998, the grantees requested approximately $468,416, approximately $230,916 more than was appropriated.



APP/gm