Report Recent changes in the state’s corporate income tax structure are causing this important revenue source, which helps stabilize the state’s general fund, to erode. The reasoning behind recent CIT legislation was to encourage economic development. In general, however, the academic literature is skeptical about the efficacy of using the tax system for such purposes.
Presentation Given by Veronica C. Garcia, Ed.D., at a roundtable discussion hosted by U.S. Senator Tom Udall, this looks at data on child well-being in New Mexico as presented in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2013 national KIDS COUNT Data Book and their 2014 Race for Results: Building a Path to Opportunity for all Children policy brief. (State- and national-level data on the indicators of child well-being, including data by race and ethnicity)
County Data Sheets KIDS COUNT profiles include data for the 16 indicators of child well-being -- such as child poverty, percent of children living in single-parent families, and teen birth rate -- for each of New Mexico's 33 counties. (County-level data on indicators of child well-being)
Report As more and more jobs that pay a mid-level wage disappear, the demographics of the minimum wage workforce have changed. This report shows that raising the minimum wage would impact more women than men, more Hispanics than Whites, and more full-time workers than part-time. (State-level data on the demographics of the minimum wage workforce)
Report The 2003 income tax deduction for capital gains was overly generous. It meant that this unearned income is taxed at a lower rate than wages. This report makes the argument for why it should be repealed. (State-level data on capital gains income and taxes)
NM KIDS COUNT Data Book Taking a closer look at New Mexico’s fall to 50th in the nation in child well-being, this annual report presents data on indicators such as preschool enrollment, and rates of poverty, truancy, child abuse, and teen births. In addition, this year’s report ranks the counties on the 16 indicators of child well-being used in the national report and offers some policy solutions for improving child outcomes in New Mexico. (State-, county-, tribal-, and school-district-level data on the indicators of child well-being)
Report Flat tax systems - also called consumption or 2 percent taxes - sound fair on the surface, but they are not because they lean more heavily on those who earn the least amount of money. A 2 percent tax bill was introduced in the 2013 legislative session and, while it did not pass, it is almost certain to make an appearance in subsequent sessions. This report explains why it should be stopped. (State-level data on tax incidence by income level.)
Fact Sheet Released in conjunction with the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s The First Eight Years report, this KIDS COUNT fact sheet looks at the unmet needs of New Mexico’s young children and offers some policy solutions. (State-level data on indicators of child well-being for young children)
Report Given the increased demand for the lottery scholarship, flat revenue into the trust fund, and big hikes in tuition at New Mexico universities, the lottery scholarship trust fund will run dry by the end of FY14 unless the Legislature acts. Given the state’s high poverty rate, it only makes sense that the scholarship be based on student financial need. (State-level data on financial aid, per-student spending, etc.)
Infographic This KIDS COUNT infographic looks at the rates of substantiated child abuse by county and makes some policy solutions. (State- and county-level data on child abuse)