The conservative Rio Grande Foundation says anonymous respondents to an unscientific, online survey favored cutting the state's work force to reduce spending.

The idea of getting rid of 2,000 workers got a rating of just more than 8 out of 10, with 10 being the highest score, the foundation said Wednesday. That proposal could save $20 million a year, the foundation said.

Second highest on the list was repealing a measure that requires public construction projects to pay workers the prevailing wage, which the foundation says could save $60 million a year.

The New Mexico Legislature, which convenes Jan. 18, will tackle a possible $400 million budget shortfall. Gov. Susana Martinez has already made some spending cuts, including eliminating two chefs at the governor's mansion.

The survey, taken voluntarily by 2,001 people at the polling site surveymonkey.com during the last three weeks of December, didn't ask for contact information.

Among the other most popular ideas on the foundation's survey to save money, ranked by popularity:

• Divert probationers and parolees who commit technical violations of their supervision terms, but not new offenses, saving $6.4 million a year.
• Divert people imprisoned for drug possession, saving $13 million.
• Limit the amount the state can reimburse for films produced in New Mexico, and save $30 million.
• Stop service on the Rail Runner Express and save $20 million annually.

The least popular ideas included closing half of the state's university branch campuses and raising New Mexico university tuition to match the national average.

Paul Gessing, president of the foundation, said, "Even if 100 percent of our spending-cut proposals were enacted, Gov. Martinez would still have to come up with more cuts to close the $400 million budget hole."

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com.