Senate Bill 112 passed both chambers with strong bipartisan support, but was vetoed by Governor Martinez. This legislation authorized water projects around the state to be funded by the Water Trust Board, and from the Water Projects Fund. The Senate passed the legislation 36-2 and the House 54-8. The legislation would have also allowed minority and majority leadership of the Legislature to appoint additional members to the Trust Board. Currently almost all appointments are made by the Governor.
As a result of the Governor’s veto, the attached list of projects will be ineligible for funding this year. The result of the veto is that
- $2,879,434 for projects involving watershed restoration and management projects will be ineligible for funding this year; and
- $3,934,444 for projects involving water conservation, treatment and recycling will be ineligible for funding this year; and
- $12,640,000 for projects involving flood prevention projects will be ineligible for funding this year; and
- $17,069,483 for projects involving water storage, conveyance and delivery will be ineligible for funding this year.
In total over $36.5M in projects authorized by House and Senate will be ineligible for funding as a result of this veto. We all know the current drought and crisis involving water, and unfortunately this session had promised so much more. Please take time to review the list attached (at top) and let these many communities know of your efforts to support their many and needed projects.
Sincerely,
Senator Joseph Cervantes, D-31-Dona Ana