Here’s a glimpse at some of the things going on in our state:
Today, New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller issued a Risk Advisory to alert municipalities about various types of problems involving utilities managed by municipal governments. A statewide review of the most recent annual audits of municipalities revealed 22 percent of cities, towns and villages had one or more findings related to the management of water, sewer, electrical, gas and solid waste utilities. The problems identified are most common in small, rural communities with 68 percent of the findings stemming from areas with populations under 5,000.
The Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers to stay vigilant against an increase of IRS impersonation scams in the form of automated calls and new tactics from scammers demanding tax payments on iTunes and other gift cards.
When it comes to teen drug use, New Mexico stands out on a national survey but not all in a good way. Project Know, a drug-treatment advocacy group, poured through data from state agencies across the country. They found New Mexico ranks No. 2 for marijuana use among high schoolers. Twenty-eight percent — about one in four high school teens — reported smoking pot in the past month. Only Washington D.C. ranked higher.
Today, Governor Susana Martinez will announce a series of statewide school supply drives to help more kids have the materials and clothes they need to be prepared for the upcoming school year. These efforts from local nonprofits, businesses, state government, and other community organizations show how New Mexicans are joining together to improve the quality of life for every child and make our state the best place to be a kid.
New Mexico State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn today proposed the “Early Childhood Education Land Grant Act,” a draft bill for consideration during the 2017 legislative session that would create the Early Childhood Education Land Grant Permanent Fund and the Early Childhood Education Land Grant Income Fund. A copy of the legislation is attached.
