Tax and Budget Publications

Mar 12 2015

Making College More Affordable for Working Families: A Critical Investment in New Mexico

Alex McCausland2021-08-26T14:02:43-06:00Education Publications, Local Data, Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Report It’s not a coincidence that New Mexico’s lower rate of college-educated adults correlates with its higher rate of low-wage jobs - education and money are inexorably linked. Without supports, attaining a college education is out-of-reach for most low-income students. By creating a higher-paid workforce, making college more affordable for working families would benefit the state as a whole. (State- and regional-level data on adult education levels, and some state-level funding data)

Feb 25 2015

Expanding New Mexico’s Working Families Tax Credit Would Generate Economic Activity and Help Hard-Working Families

Alex McCausland2021-08-26T14:06:36-06:00Economic Security Publications, Local Data, Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Report New Mexico’s Working Families Tax Credit not only lifts tens of thousands of low-income families out of poverty each year, it also generates economic activity because the money is spent quickly and locally. Increasing the value of the credit would help with New Mexico’s sluggish recovery and cost the state much less than recently enacted tax cuts to profitable corporations. (State-level data on tax credit recipients; full report includes legislative-district-level data on recipiency)

Feb 13 2015

Tax Cut Twilight Zone

Alex McCausland2021-08-26T14:08:26-06:00Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Infographic Despite shrinking revenue, lawmakers in the 2015 legislative session are considering enacting more corporate income tax cuts. It's enough to make one wonder if we've entered the Tax Cut Twilight Zone.

Feb 13 2015

The corporate tax cuts of 2013 are costing more than anticipated

Alex McCausland2021-08-26T14:10:02-06:00Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Fact Sheet The corporate income tax cuts enacted in 2013 are costing the state more than anticipated and doing little - if anything - for job growth. This fact sheet makes the case for why lawmakers should stop enacting ineffective tax cuts.

Jan 29 2015

Spending cuts to child care assistance put kids at risk

Alex McCausland2021-08-26T14:12:22-06:00Health Publications, Kids Count Publications, Local Data, Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Fact Sheet The state's Children, Youth and Families Department seems to have its spending priorities a bit mixed up, as this fact sheet shows. While the department is requesting $10 million more for investigating allegations of child abuse, it's asked for less money - not to mention having neglected to spend federal money - for child care assistance even though the lack of affordable child care is a risk factor for child abuse. (State-level data on child care assistance)

Oct 23 2014

Tax Policy and Economic Well-being

Alex McCausland2021-08-26T14:15:17-06:00Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Presentation Looks at some of the inequities in our state's tax system, how those inequities exacerbate the current economic slowdown, a policy that can improve matters, and various ways to pay for it.

Sep 08 2014

Strengthening New Mexico’s Workforce and Economy by Developing Career Pathways

Alex McCausland2021-08-26T14:25:13-06:00Economic Security Publications, Education Publications, Local Data, Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Report New Mexico’s education programs for low-skilled workers are underfunded, fragmented, and have low completion rates. The state should develop a career pathways framework, which would better help our workforce earn industry credentials and college degrees. (State- and regional-level data on educational attainment level of adults, economic security, and state funding levels)

May 22 2014

New Mexico Public School Funding: Still Well Below Pre-Recession Levels

Alex McCausland2021-08-26T14:28:14-06:00Education Publications, Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

Report During the recession, New Mexico made deep cuts to public school funding. Although funding levels have been increased in the last few years, the education operating budget was 10 percent lower in the 2012-13 school year than in 2007-08 even before adjusting for inflation. Per-pupil funding is 14 percent lower because student enrollment has grown.

Apr 14 2014

The Corporate Income Tax: A Declining But Essential Part of New Mexico State Revenues

Alex McCausland2024-03-19T16:46:27-06:00Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

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.

Jan 29 2014

New Mexico’s Capital Gains Deduction: A Capital Loss for New Mexicans

Alex McCausland2021-08-26T14:46:30-06:00Economic Security Publications, Local Data, Publications, Tax and Budget Publications|

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)