Local groups start eyeing state session

Christmas lists — of a certain sort — were given Thursday at the annual Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast.

At the early morning gathering, local civic leaders shared their legislative requests with state lawmakers, who gave a peek into the session around the bend.

The 2007 state legislative session begins Jan. 16 and ends March 17 in Santa Fe. Lawmakers have a record $723 million in surplus money.

“People are the best source of information we have. Anything you’d like to see state government take a look at please let us know,” said Sen. Stuart Ingle, R-Portales. “State government is the best from the ground up.”

Ingle, Sen. Gay Kernan, R-Hobbs, Sen. Clint Harden, R-Clovis, and Rep. Anna Crook, R-Clovis, attended the breakfast, along with about 50 local leaders, mostly city and county officials.

The 2007-2008 state budget calls for about $5 billion in spending.

The surplus is primarily a result of oil and gas revenues, lawmakers said. Each 10-cent change in the price of a unit adds another $11.5 million into New Mexico’s coffers, according to the Associated Press.

Lawmakers favor spending surplus money on one-time spending projects, Crook advised at Thursday’s breakfast. Last year, oil and gas revenue generated a $500 million windfall.

Tax reform, pay increases for state workers, eminent domain, oversight of local regulations and water will be hot topics this session, according to legislators.

Legislative priorities

Legislative requests

• Curry County

$ 1.3 million — To complete the multipurpose events center at the Curry County Fairgrounds.

$1.5 million — To chip-seal county roads 3, 10, E and 16.

$600,000 — To improve and update Curry County Fairgrounds.

$200,000 — To acquire emergency telecommunications equipment.

$500,000 — To acquire and renovate a central law enforcement facility.

• City of Clovis

$2.8 million — To create an effluent re-use program, which would save 2 billion gallons of water annually in the city by using treated wastewater to irrigate city parks, the golf course and Clovis Schools sports fields.

$900,000 — To improve and enhance service at the Clovis Municipal Airport.

$1.4 million — To widen Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from Riata Street to Llano Estacado Boulevard.

$2 million — To widen Norris Street from Llano Estacado Boulevard to Wilhite Road.

$2.5 million — To construct a Wellness/Youth Development Center and soccer complex.

• Clovis Industrial Development Corp.

$2.5 million — To plan, design, construct and equip the Clovis Industrial Park for the city of Clovis.