Subcommittee retains LFC budget for State Fair; debate over $275,000 transfer and $1M supplemental

The Appropriations & Finance subcommittee voted to adopt the Legislative Finance Committee’s budget recommendation for the New Mexico State Fair, maintaining the LFC’s treatment of a $375,000 general‑fund appropriation for the African American Performing Arts Center and not approving the executive branch’s $15,000 increase or a planned transfer without enabling legislation.

Rachel Mercer Garcia, the LFC analyst for the State Fair, told members the overall difference between the LFC and executive recommendations is $15,000; the LFC held the general‑fund appropriation for the African American Performing Arts Center flat at $375,000 and proposed transferring $275,000 of that general fund to the Department of Cultural Affairs to oversee programmatic elements — a transfer the analyst said would be contingent on enabling legislation. The executive recommendation would increase the appropriation by $15,000 and did not include that contingent transfer.

Dan Morning, general manager of Expo New Mexico and the State Fair, outlined the agency’s operations and year‑round activities, saying the fair drew “518,000 reasons why people love it” last year and that the event generated about $744,000 for 4‑H and FFA projects through livestock sales. Morning and the DFA analyst also described a request in the executive budget for a $1,000,000 special (nonrecurring) supplemental to address higher‑than‑expected contractual and other event costs; LFC did not include that supplemental in its recommendation.

Committee members questioned the agency about facilities condition, master planning and a possible relocation. Morning said a governor‑ordered master plan is under way to study the fairgrounds’ future use and that relocation is a possibility but not a decision. He acknowledged facility maintenance needs such as seating replacement at Tingley Coliseum and noted that some infrastructure improvements are already in progress. He also described year‑round community uses of the fairgrounds, including disaster response support and job‑training partnerships.

Representative Randall Pettigrew asked whether a transfer to DCA would allow DCA to retain an administrative percentage; LFC analysts said that would depend on enabling legislation and that a bill could specify DCA’s administrative role. Representatives raised questions about admission prices, parking, and how concerts and rodeos are priced relative to admission; the general manager clarified that concert and rodeo tickets include admission but parking is separate, and gave typical price ranges.

The subcommittee adopted the LFC recommendation by voice vote with a recorded opposition noted by Representative Pettigrew during the motion; the committee did not approve the executive’s supplemental or the $15,000 general‑fund increase as part of its action in the subcommittee. Presenters offered to provide further information on master‑planning timelines and detailed fiscal impacts if legislators request it.