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Cultural Affairs seeks more staff and NAGPRA funding; lawmakers adopt LFC rec
Summary
The Cultural Affairs Department requested increased personnel funding for museums and at least partial funding for NAGPRA compliance; the committee adopted the LFC recommendation but the department warned of a staffing shortfall without additional recurring funding.
The Cultural Affairs Department (DCA) presented its FY26 budget request and warned that continued understaffing could force position freezes that would reduce services. Secretary Deborah Garcia Griego said DCA operates 16 public sites and four statewide service agencies, serves about two million constituents annually, and produces an estimated $133 million in economic impact.
DCA asked for a larger recurring increase in personnel funding for the museums and historic sites program (p536) than the LFC recommended. Secretary Garcia Griego described progress on staffing and program delivery—138 positions filled last fiscal year and no general‑fund reversions from the 2‑hundreds—but said the department’s funded vacancy picture remains strained: she reported a funded vacancy rate of negative 2% (a shortfall between authorized and budgeted positions) and warned a 25% vacancy rate could result without added support.
The department also requested multi‑year support for NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) compliance. DFA analyst Dr. Andrew Minor noted the executive proposed $5 million through FY2027 while the LFC proposed $2.5 million (FY2026). Garcia Griego said the first year funds are needed to inventory and prepare records; the second year is needed to support consultation visits and repatriation work with tribal nations.
Committee members asked about specific historic sites including Lincoln and Fort Stanton; the department said both have active ICIP requests and recent investments (for example, water and sewer work at Fort Stanton). Members also discussed the new Taylor Mesilla historic site and Wonders on Wheels outreach.
Action: Vice Chair Dixon moved and Representative Silva seconded adoption of the LFC recommendation for the Cultural Affairs budget; the motion carried with no recorded opposition.
Follow up: DCA asked the committee to consider additional recurring funding for personnel in museum/historic sites programs to avoid program reductions.
