Associated Press
SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico lawmakers are wading through some $1.8 billion in funding requests for infrastructure projects submitted by state and local agencies for next year.
The state’s Legislative Finance Committee meets Friday in Santa Fe to weigh capital spending priorities.
Government watchdogs want the state to reconsider the way it selects and pays for public works projects. A recent review by legislative analysts identified more than $1 billion in funds that went unspent for projects approved over the last several years.
Funding will be made available to only a small fraction of the new request for improvements to prison facilities, foster care housing, medical centers, roads and bridges. Appropriations for the current year were $294 million.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press