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.)
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.)
Policy Brief An expensive omnibus tax bill was rushed through in the final moments of the 2013 legislative session. Featuring tax breaks for corporations, it was sold to legislators as a jobs bill - even though there is no evidence to support this claim. (State-level data on the cost of the 2013 tax cuts by type of tax)
Report The Legislature is considering implementing a different formula for determining corporate profits for income tax purposes. This paper explains how the formula works and why it would be bad for New Mexico-owned businesses. (State-level data on corporate income tax revenue.)
Report Most of the concern over federal sequestration has centered on defense cuts. This report looks at the impact these cuts will have on New Mexico’s education, health care, and employment services. (State-level data on the impact of federal sequestration by budget area)
Fact Sheet Expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act will not only be good for New Mexico's low-income uninsured adults - it will also be good for the state's bottom line. (State-level data on cost of Medicaid and expansion, insurance rates, and child Medicaid enrollment.)
Presentation Created for a hearing of the Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Committee, this presentation looks at how much damage a corporate tax cut proposal would do to New Mexico’s operating budget.
Report As the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented over the next several years, millions in federal dollars will be injected into the state. The result will be billions of dollars in economic activity and the creation of tens of thousands of jobs. Updated in Aug. 2012 to reflect new estimates for the Medicaid expansion by the state’s Human Services Department. (State-level data on estimated economic activity and new jobs created by the Medicaid expansion, as well as amount of federal funding and state cost.)
Report The companion piece to our report The Economic Benefits of Health Care Reform in New Mexico, this report estimates the amount of tax revenue the state will collect as a result of the economic activity generated by the federal funding that will flow into New Mexico when the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented. Updated in Aug. 2012, to reflect new estimates for the Medicaid expansion by the state’s Human Services Department. (State-level data on estimated tax revenue from Medicaid expansion, as well as economic activity and new jobs created and state cost.)
Report An updated and expanded version of previous reports on funding public schools, this report looks specifically at the effect the recession has had on New Mexico’s ability to fund its public schools. (State-level data on K-12 education enrollment, revenue, and expenditures.)