New Mexico may put state pay raises on hold

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) – New Mexico government pay raises may be put on hold because of low energy prices and weak state revenues from the oil and natural gas sector.
A legislative budget proposal released Friday would increase state spending by $232 million for the coming fiscal year.
The recommendation from the Legislative Finance Committee came with a warning that it may need to withhold $78 million in new spending intended for pay raises if energy prices remain low.
The committee’s