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Expand Opportunity to All New Mexicans: Raise State Minimum Wage to $7.50 Indexed to Inflation New Mexico has the largest portion of hourly paid workers in the United States that survive on minimum wage. Raising the minimum wage to 7.50/hour would increase the economic opportunities of working adults in New Mexico and help reduce poverty. (Updated Oct. 2006)
An Economic Success Story: Job Growth and Poverty Reduction in States that have Raised the Minimum Wage A comparative study of states reveals that raising the minimum wage promotes steady job growth and reduces poverty. (Updated Oct. 2006)
Moving Toward Revenue Policy Transparency in New Mexico Every year in New Mexico, hundreds of millions of dollars worth of tax cuts, credits and incentives, known as "tax expenditures," go to individuals and businesses through exceptions to normal tax law. But because no one is required to keep track of the combined annual cost, they've ballooned into a $5 billion annual giveaway. (Sept. 2006; 12 pages)
- Download the report (pdf)
- Download the PowerPoint presentation (pdf)
- Link to the press release
- Link to New Mexico Business Weekly news coverage
2006 State of Working New Mexico This annual report looks at employment factors in New Mexico from wage and income levels to the quality of jobs, unemployment rates, and more. (Sept. 2006; 28 pages)
Undocumented Immigrants in New Mexico: State Tax Contributions and Fiscal Concerns Estimates how much undocumented immigrants pay the state in gross receipts and property taxes and how much undocumented immigrant children cost the state in K-12 educational services. (May 2006; 8 pages)
Workforce Environment Index – New Mexico and Neighboring States Ranks the states on a set of measures such as job quality, job opportunities, and workplace fairness that describe what the environment is like for working people. (March 2006; 8 pages)
The Path to a High Road Economy: Investing in People, Creating Opportunity A report of the Working Poor Families Project, it looks at everything from work supports (from adult basic education to health care for all) to economic development incentives. (Jan. 2006; 39 pages)
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2005 State of Working New Mexico This annual report looks at employment factors in New Mexico from wage and income levels to the quality of jobs, unemployment rates, and more.
State Tax Policy and Child Poverty in New Mexico Presents the results of simulations conducted for several proposed
tax-based programs designed to decrease child poverty in New Mexico. Using a model
constructed from individual tax return data, existing tax regulations and safety
net programs for the poor, policies are analyzed and compared on the basis of
cost (tax expenditure) and expected effects on poor families’ economic status. (July 2005)
The Social Infrastructure and Economic Development in New Mexico Every year, our state budgets tax dollars to support social infrastructure programs. This report explores the benefits of social infrastructure in terms of job creation and economic development that the public rarely sees. It suggests that social infrastructure is a key ingredient of successful economic development and should not be ignored. (July 2005; 53 pages)
State Tax Policy and Child Poverty in New Mexico Based on average
poverty rates over the years 1995, 1996 and 1997, the U.S. Census Bureau reports
that the state of New Mexico had the highest rate of poverty of any state in the
nation. Children in particular suffer the long-term effects of growing up in poverty.
This paper presents the results of simulations conducted for several proposed
tax-based programs designed to decrease child poverty in New Mexico. (July 2005)
Tax Effort in New Mexico: Need for a Fair Tax System The 2003 personal income tax cuts made New Mexico’s tax code much less progressive. This report explores the ramifications of regressive tax policy, and argues the need for a more progressive tax policy in New Mexico. (April 2005; 3 pages)
Who's Minding the Store? New Mexico's Income Tax Cut: Poor Performance, Wrong Choice The personal income tax cut in 2003 promised to produce noticeable results in public infrastructure and job growth. This report explores how tax cuts damage the state budget and avoid transparency. (March 2005; 3 pages)
Social Security: What it Means to New Mexico Sixteen percent of New Mexico’s population relies on Social Security benefits. Social Security does not exclusively benefit the elderly, but also assists the disabled and those who have lost the family bread-winner. This report examines the financial dilemma of Social Security, its proposed solutions, and its positive effects on the New Mexico economy. (March 2005)
Personal Income Tax Cuts Do Not Equal Economic Growth This report demonstrates how New Mexico’s personal income tax cut falls short of its promise of job growth and economic development. (Feb. 2005; 4 pages)
Social Security Essentials Stats on who gets Social Security benefits in New Mexico by county (Compiled by the EPI, Feb. 2005; 2 pages)
Faulty Foundations: State Structural Budget
Problems and How to Fix Them Tax cuts passed in 2003 have made New Mexico's budget overly reliant on revenues from the extraction of oil and natural gas. As this is an unstable revenue source, the state budget is at risk. (By the CBPP, 2005)
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2004 State of Working New Mexico This annual report looks at employment factors in New Mexico from wage and income levels to the quality of jobs, unemployment rates, and more. (Sept. 2004; 16 pages)
New Mexico's Personal Income Tax Cut: What it Means to You Because of the personal income tax cut, the state will collect $350 million less in taxes each year. This revenue crisis has lawmakers cutting funding for social services. (March 2004)
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