Lawmakers have given final approval to a proposed state budget spending $6 billion next year for public schools, colleges and universities and government operations ranging from prisons to health care for the needy.

The bill heads to Gov. Bill Richardson.

The financial blueprint for state government provides for a spending increase of $349 million, or 6.2 percent, from the state's main budget account in the fiscal year that starts in July.

The budget cleared its final hurdle Thursday when the House agreed to a Senate-passed version of the spending blueprint.

Richardson will have three days to sign or veto the measure once it reaches his desk. The governor can cut individual spending provisions using his line-item veto power.

"Gov. Richardson looks forward to carefully reviewing the budget and taking action in a fiscally prudent manner," spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said in a statement.

"At first glance, the governor is disappointed that the Legislature did not do anything to expand the number of children who can be covered by Medicaid," Gallegos said.

Medicaid, which pays for health care for the poor and uninsured children, will get about a fourth of the proposed spending increase in the budget: roughly $91 million.

However, the budget didn't provide as much money for Medicaid and several programs as the governor requested from lawmakers. For example, lawmakers didn't provide $8.8 million the governor sought to provide medical services to more children.

Public schools and the state's network of colleges and universities will receive not quite half of the proposed spending increase. Health and human services programs, such as Medicaid, represent slightly more than a third of the budget increase.

The budget provides:

—About $2.6 billion for public schools, an increase of 5.2 percent or $124 million over current spending. Included is money for 2 percent average salary increases for teachers and school workers along with a 0.75 percent boost in employer contributions to shore up an educational retirement fund and a 0.20 percent increase in employer contributions for a financially troubled retiree health care program. Certain employees in lower-paying jobs, including educational assistants and food service workers, receive an additional 1 percent pay increase.

—About $883 million for colleges and universities. That's an increase of 4.3 percent or $36 million. Included is money for a pay package similar to that for public school teachers, including 2 percent salary increases for faculty and staff.

—2.4 percent pay raises for most state employees and an increase of 0.2 percent in the employer contributions to the retiree health care program. Another bill is moving through the Legislature that will allow an additional 0.5 percent pay increase for employees in Richardson administration agencies. However, the extra increase isn't fully funded and some agencies will have to cover the costs through budgetary belt-tightening.

The Legislature wrapped up the budget a week before the session is to adjourn.

———

The budget is HB2.

———

On the Net:

Legislature: www.legis.state.nm.us




© Copyright Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.