Local Data

Jan 21 2019

Tax and Jobs Analysis of San Juan Generating Station Closure

Alex McCausland2021-08-25T15:41:19-06:00Local Data, Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Report The San Juan Generating Station in Waterflow, New Mexico, is slated for closure in 2022. Closure of both the mine and plant will eliminate approximately 450 jobs and result in the loss of tax revenue for San Juan County, San Juan Community College, and the local school district. This analysis shows that the complex is a good candidate for redevelopment as a solar photovoltaic plant, saving jobs and tax revenue. (State-level estimates of the fiscal and economic impacts of closing the San Juan Generating Station.)

Jan 19 2019

Helping NM families get ahead by fixing the child care cliff effect

Alex McCausland2021-08-27T12:27:55-06:00Economic Security Publications, Education Publications, Local Data, Publications|

Fact Sheet A companion to the report The Cliff Effect: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back, this sums up the report's basic message about how the sudden loss of benefits like child care assistance - called the cliff effect - can act as a disincentive for hard-working families trying to lift themselves out of poverty. Also includes policy recommendations for mitigating the cliff effect. (State-level data on the child care assistance program)

Jan 15 2019

2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book

Alex McCausland2023-02-14T13:29:38-07:00Economic Security Publications, Education Publications, Health Publications, Kids Count Publications, Local Data, Publications, Racial and Ethnic Equity Publications|

NM KIDS COUNT Data Book After ten years of austerity, New Mexico has fallen to last in the nation in child well-being. The state also lost a lawsuit claiming that it is not meeting its constitutional obligation when it comes to public education. It's time to change course. This annual publication reports the latest data on child well-being in New Mexico to help us choose the path forward. (State-, county-, tribal-, and school district-level data on indicators of child well-being; data by race and ethnicity where available)

Dec 13 2018

New Mexico Should NOT Tax Food

Alex McCausland2021-08-25T15:52:24-06:00Health Publications, Local Data, Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Infographic/Fact Sheet Some legislators have introduced bills that would put the state's sales tax (the gross receipts tax, or GRT) on food purchased at the grocery store. This is a bad idea -- even if it's done as part of an effort to lower the overall GRT rate. With New Mexico's high rates of food insecurity and poverty, a tax on food will hurt even those families who receive SNAP, because these benefits are not intended to meet a family's entire food need. (State-level data on food insecurity, SNAP usage, trade-offs families must make, and an opinion poll on the issue.)

Nov 28 2018

The Cliff Effect: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Alex McCausland2021-08-27T12:26:25-06:00Economic Security Publications, Education Publications, Local Data, Publications|

Report How can a $1 raise in pay throw families into poverty? When they are at the ceiling for child care assistance eligibility, a tiny raise can mean they go from paying 18 percent of their income on child care to 38 percent. Work supports like child care assistance should help families achieve economic stability. But the sudden loss of benefits - called the cliff effect - can have the opposite effect. (State-level data on the child care assistance program)

Nov 08 2018

It’s time to repeal the capital gains deduction

Alex McCausland2021-08-25T15:53:45-06:00Economic Security Publications, Local Data, Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Fact Sheet A big tax break enacted in 2003 overwhelming goes to the highest-income earners – the people who are already paying the smallest share of their income in state and local taxes. It costs the state tens of millions of dollars a year and means that unearned income is taxed at a lower rate than money earned from wages. (State-level data on income levels, etc., of those that receive this tax deduction)

Oct 23 2018

Investing in a Healthier New Mexico

Alex McCausland2021-08-25T16:15:10-06:00Economic Security Publications, Health Publications, Local Data, Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Report The Medicaid expansion, as part of the Affordable Care Act, has been very good for New Mexico. Not only are tens of thousands of New Mexicans able to access health care, the program has brought billions into the state that has created thousands of jobs, economic activity, and tax revenue. (State-level data on the number of jobs created, economic activity, and tax revenue as a result of the expansion)

Sep 27 2018

Winning the race to the bottom

Alex McCausland2021-08-25T16:13:54-06:00Economic Security Publications, Local Data, Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Fact Sheet How did New Mexico get to be last in the nation in child well-being and education? We engaged in 15 years of failed tax policies that prioritized cutting taxes for special interests over investing in our people. This fact sheet looks at what that strategy cost us. (State-level data on the cost of several tax cuts and how lost revenue translated to cuts in spending)

Aug 29 2018

New Mexicans are Worth More: Raising the State’s Minimum Wage

Alex McCausland2024-03-19T15:09:58-06:00Economic Security Publications, Health Publications, Local Data, Publications, Racial and Ethnic Equity Publications|

Report New Mexico's minimum wage has not been raised in nearly a decade. Worth $7.50 an hour back in 2009, it now has the purchasing power of $6.30. Nearly a quarter of a million workers and more than 100,000 children would benefit from an increase in the state minimum wage. (A Working Poor Families Project report; state-level data on selected demographics of low-wage workers)

Jun 27 2018

New Mexico’s 2018 KIDS COUNT profile

Alex McCausland2021-08-27T12:32:03-06:00Economic Security Publications, Education Publications, Health Publications, Kids Count Publications, Local Data, Publications|

State Data Sheet New Mexico has fallen to 50th in the nation in child well-being after ranking 49th for the past four years. This state profile shows how our children are faring on the 16 indicators of child well-being used in the national KIDS COUNT rankings. (State-level data on indicators of child well-being)