MLG Budget Recommends Increases in Hunger Initiative Funds Financing

The following press release was issued by the New Mexico Department of Finance Administration.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 14, 2022

Gov. Budget Recommendation for Department of Finance and Administration Includes Statewide Hunger Initiative

DFA to take on historic role of the administration of federal funds

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s executive budget recommendation for the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) includes funding for the state’s hunger initiative, an increase in county detention funds, and funding for the administration of federal grants. The recommendation includes an overall general fund budget of $41 million dollars, an increase of over $19 million dollars (or 85.9%) from the FY22 operating budget. 

Over the last three years, New Mexico had the second-largest improvement in food insecurity rates in the country – but there is more to be done. DFA’s budget recommendation allocates additional funding toward state hunger initiatives, to be administered by the department, in order to improve the lives of New Mexicans all around the state.

DFA will distribute $14.4 million dollars to eight state agencies for various food and hunger initiatives. The funding will also support food banks and hunger relief organizations throughout the state and provide additional resources for agricultural producers to grow more food for New Mexicans. 

DFA is taking on the responsibility of administering funds to other state agencies in order to continue advancing management and oversight of large state funded programs – through his new role, DFA will help support a variety of important initiatives that directly benefit New Mexicans, utilizing the agency’s experience in fiscal management.

“In FY23, DFA will aid ongoing and future initiatives through general fund spending to ensure New Mexicans get the utmost care and support,” said DFA Secretary Debbie Romero. “This year’s budget allows us to hire the necessary personnel to administer these new programs while we continue to serve in our historical role of oversight and support to state and local governments.”

The budget also offers a $764 thousand dollar increase for personal services and employee benefits to fund existing positions and will include the addition of 8 full time employee positions to alleviate the workload distribution within the agency. In addition, the budget has allocated $5 million dollars for county detention funds and $650 thousand dollars for the Land Grant Council. 

The full FY23 Executive Budget Recommendation can be found here.

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Baylee Rawson, Public Information Officer, bayleerawson1@state.nm.us