AGC supports state-wide planning for state infrastructure needs. New Mexicans need access to expanded air travel to regions across the state; to establish an energy and fuel policy that saves these resources and provides economic opportunity for citizens responding to meet this need; to maintain the focus of building adequate public schools; to establish a hazardous waste, solid waste and recycling policy that conserves energy and protects the environment; secure our state’s anchor sites for tourism and economic development to provide the public with access to the state’s cultural, historic and natural resources; to increase the state’s track miles used for intercity and commuter rail service; and always design and build infrastructure facilities that can be operated and maintained in secure ways with adequate funding for construction, operations and maintenance. To accomplish these goals, capital outlay spending must be characterized by these words: planned, consistent, and significant. Each annual legislative session must yield a program of spending on prioritized needs within the state. Spending in this way will provide the structures and services New Mexico needs while supporting the industry and workers needed to build them as one dollar paid a construction worker in New Mexico creates two dollars in additional industry and services across the state.

Contractors must provide the skills, tools and resources to build projects that are conceived and designed. A role of the state is to provide for the infrastructure needs of its citizens. A planned, consistent and significant capital outlay spending program provides a base of economy to sustain, attract and keep a skilled workforce. Additionally this approach will yield the quality of life required in New Mexico for its citizens to compete with their neighbors throughout the Southwest.

Legislators and the governor have the power to spend state money. A planned program that goes beyond one year obligates successive legislatures and governors to spend money without the power to decide how and in what amounts limiting the power of the legislature.

New Mexico must develop cohesive short-term and long-term plans for meeting infrastructure needs across the state. The state must evaluate needs, prioritize the needs, develop a plan to meet them, and establish a program to fund these needs without conflict among the branches of state government. The old method of capital outlay spending--by legislative district and in amounts agreed to by legislators, known as ‘pork’ spending, is a method that doesn’t go beyond one year’s appropriation, but such a method doesn’t work to address state-wide needs.

For more information,please contact John Horton of the Associated General Contractors-New Mexico Building Branch at 505-842-1462.

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