GENERAL
Roswell Daily Record
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
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Martinez proposes 3 percent budget cuts next year
SANTA FE (AP) — Gov. Susana Martinez proposed Monday to cut state spending by about 3 percent next year to balance a $5.4 billion budget for public education and governmental services. In releasing her budget recommendations to the Legislature, the Republican governor proposed that public schools find $30 million in savings in administrative operations. However, she said school districts should be able to find the savings without cuts in classroom spending, which she had pledged to protect during last year’s gubernatorial campaign. Martinez also recommended that government workers and some educators pay more for their pensions. It’s a change that would trim take-home pay for public employees although part of that would be offset by lower federal payroll taxes. No tax increase would be required to balance the budget under Martinez’s plan, which would trim state spending by about $179 million in the fiscal year that starts July 1.
A budget proposal by the Legislative Finance Committee calls for cuts of about $194 million. Like the legislative panel, Martinez gained much of her proposed savings by requiring state workers and some educational employees to pay an additional 2 percent of their salaries for their pensions. The state would reduce its pension payments by a similar amount, saving about $39 million next year. Martinez would apply the pension shift to public employees except teachers and educational assistants. She said that would help protect those who provide classroom instruction for students. A worker earning about $43,000 a year would see an estimated $32 drop in each paycheck because of the higher pension payments, according to the administration. The LFC had recommended a 1.75 percent pension swap — saving almost $50 million — but it would apply to all educators and state workers. A similar 1.5 percent pension contribu-
Boy, 17, fatally shoots self at party JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
A 17-year-old boy was shot and killed Friday at a party held at 616 E. Cherry St. According to eyewitness accounts, the wound was self-inflicted. Alberto Villeas, 911 E. Jefferson St., died of a single gunshot wound to the head. “All indications are that it was an accident,” said Officer Travis Holley, spokesman for the Roswell Police Department. “The youth was at a party where there was drinking, smoking marijuana and playing with guns,” said Holley. “He was playing with the gun,” Holley said. “He put it to his head and pulled the trigger.” Other arrests may be forthcoming as a result of the alcohol present at the party and the drug use. “In an incident of this kind, you have to prioritize, and the first priority was to get witness statements,” explained Holley. This is the third case of a juvenile wounded by a self-inflicted gunshot wound since August, the second that resulted in a death. The first occurred on Aug. 4, when of ficers responded to a call at 310 E. Forest Drive to find Julian Tegeda, 15, deceased from a gunshot wound. The mother of Tegeda’s friend said he had taken the clip out of the gun, placed the gun in his mouth and shot. “When you point a gun at yourself and pull the trigger, bad things are gonna happen,” said Holley. The second incident occurred on Oct. 26 where an 8-year-old boy was wounded when he got a hold of his stepfather’s handmade gun and shot himself. The boy was treated in Lubbock, Texas, for wounds to his arm in the non-fatal accidental shooting. The father was charged with abuse of a child and as a felon in possession of a firearm. Holley said that parents need to be responsible for their children. “I teach gun safety here,” he said. “This sort of thing just infuriates me.”
Suspect
tion change was enacted in 2009 for two years. Martinez and the LFC propose to continue that next year, saving about $42 million. Martinez said the pension change was preferable to layoffs, furloughs or a permanent salary cut for workers. The higher payments flow into pension funds, which means the money remains available to workers when they retire or leave for another job. “We all have to tighten our belts. Families in New Mexico are tightening their belts,” Martinez said at a news conference. “And state employees as well as cabinet secretaries ... everyone in state government has to start doing more with less.” In the current budget year, which ends in June, the state is spending $5.6 billion. That includes about $380 million in federal economic stimulus money, which won’t be available in the next fiscal year and has created a budget gap that the governor and Legislature must close through cuts or finding additional revenues.
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been publicly announced. Earlier in the day, the nation observed a moment of silence for the victims, from the South Lawn of the White House and the steps of the U.S. Capitol to legislatures beyond Arizona and the planet itself. At the International Space Station, Giffords’ brotherin-law, Scott, the commanding officer, spoke over the radio as flight controllers in Houston fell silent. “As I look out the window, I see a very beautiful planet that seems very inviting and peaceful,” he said. “Unfortunately, it is not. “These days, we are constantly reminded of the unspeakable acts of violence and damage we can inflict upon one another, not just with our actions, but also with our irresponsible words,” he said. “We’re better than this,” he said. “We must do better.” On a frigid morning outside the White House, Obama and first lady Michelle Obama stood side by side, each with their hands clasped, heads bowed and eyes closed.
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with his family to Alamogordo in the 1960s. He graduated from Alamogordo High School, where his father was a teacher, football and basketball coach, in 1974. He received an associate of applied science degree from Eastern New Mexico University in the human resource aspect of the oil industry, then a bachelor’s degree in university studies degree from ENMU in special educa-
On the steps of the U.S. Capitol, congressional staff and other employees did the same. At the Supreme Court, the justices paused for a moment of silence between the two cases they were hearing Monday morning. The president called for the country to come together in prayer or reflection for those killed and those fighting to recover. “In the coming days, we’re going to have a lot of time to reflect,” he said. “Right now the main thing we’re doing is to offer our thoughts and prayers to those who’ve been impacted, making sure we’re joining together and pulling together as a country.” Later Monday, a moment of silence was held at the BCS national championship between Oregon and Auburn in Glendale. In total, six died and 14 were injured or wounded outside a supermarket where Giffords set up a booth to hear the concerns of constituents. Loughner was tackled to the ground minutes after the shooting began, authorities said. He has been silent ever since. Among the dead was 9-year -old Christina Taylor Green, who was born on the day of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Her funeral is Thursday. tion and history. He also attended New Mexico Military Institute Junior College. Now retired, he worked for Blewett Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning for about 20 years. For a year and a half in the early 2000s, he worked as a full-time special education substitute teacher at University High School and has subbed at the junior high and high school levels throughout the district. He has been married for 35 years to his wife, Jiny, and has six children and three grandchildren. emiller@roswell-record.com
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j.palmer@roswell-record.com
Battery
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The incident occurred at the couple’s house, but the arrest took place at the police department. Bond was set at $1,500, which Kintigh said Madsen posted. “This is not a good day for the RPD, but I’m proud of the people here,” said Kintigh. “They behaved professionally, throughout.” If found guilty of the misdemeanor crime, the incident could ruin the detective’s career. “She will not be able to be a police officer anywhere in the United States,” Kintigh said. “No one charged with domes-
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Calling it “a sad day,” Kintigh praised her police work in the past and said she is dedicated and is a good liasion with the community.
THE PRICES HAVE BEEN REDUCED EVEN MORE ON OUR ANNUAL OUT OF THIS WORLD SHOES & ACCESSORIES CLEARANCE
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Madsen has been suspended with pay, pending investigations.
j.palmer@roswell-record.com
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tic violence can carry a gun.”
“(The) RPD treats these cases very seriously, and we don’t show favoritism,” Kintigh said. “The law will be enforced equally for everybody. ... This case is hard on everybody, but it’s important for people to know that officers will be treated no dif ferently than any other citizen of our community,” he said.
Martinez’s budget picks up about $33 million from cash balances held by a number of programs, including $10 million from the College Affordability Fund, an endowment that provides scholarships for college students who don’t qualify for the state’s largest financial aid program. The governor also proposed scaling back a tax break for film production in New Mexico, saving $25 million next year. Her budget assumes the state can save $6 million by eliminating appointive government jobs and $7.9 million by consolidating and streamlining state agencies. Overall, the governor’s budget would provide about $2.4 billion for schools next year. The state’s network of colleges and universities would get $743 million, a nearly 3 percent reduction. Martinez, a former prosecutor, spared the Department of Public Safety from budget cuts next year and made only a 0.1 percent reduction in the Department of Corrections, which operates the state prison system.
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