Dan Boyd

Gov. Bill Richardson proposes cutting education costs next year by increasing class sizes, delaying textbook purchases and postponing a mandate for an extra school day — moves that are sparking strong opposition from teachers unions.

The cuts are part of the governor’s plan to deal with a $450 million state revenue shortfall.

The proposal would allow an extra two students in most kindergarten through elementary school grades. For example, kindergarten classes could be bumped from 20 to 22 students. Fourth grade classes could be bumped from 24 to 26 students. High school teacher loads could also grow.

State education officials say they hope the cuts will be f...

Gov. Bill Richardson’s plan to balance the state budget without raising taxes will hinge heavily on legislators’ willingness to cancel $263 million worth of public building projects and equipment purchases around the state.

Projects that could be affected range from Little League fields and schools to senior centers — ones that had been authorized but on which construction has not begun. The administration has not released an itemized list.

“I don’t believe we need tax increases,” Richardson said Monday as he outlined his recommendations for dealing with a $454 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year that runs through June.

The Democratic governor,...

New Mexico has quietly readied a $1.8 billion shopping list as congressional Democrats and the incoming Obama administration discuss an enormous national economic stimulus plan based on infrastructure spending.

Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration refused to make the list public this week, but a copy obtained by the Journal shows that roads, schools and water treatment plants, from Santa Teresa to Shiprock, could be beneficiaries if the federal government breaks out its checkbook.

The list was put together by New Mexico state agencies over the past month.

Richardson’s office earlier this week said it was a con- stantly changing work in progress. However, the copy...

The Diane Denish era hasn’t begun yet, but the woman who’s poised to become New Mexico’s first female governor is preparing to take over the state’s reins at full gallop.

Denish, the state’s lieutenant governor since 2003, told reporters Wednesday that she’s been in close touch with Gov. Bill Richardson and is “absolutely” in the loop on key fiscal matters.

Denish met with Richardson on Tuesday and plans to meet with him again this morning to discuss transition details.

Well be working closely together to make sure we have the smoothest transition possible,” Denish told a news conference at a Santa Fe hotel.

Denish most likely won’t become g...

New Mexico’s secretary of state expects that 80 percent of registered voters statewide will cast ballots in Tuesday’s general election.

If that ends up being the case — and early voting numbers show nearly 188,000 New Mexicans have already cast ballots — the turnout would easily surpass recent bench marks.

In the 2004 general election, 70 percent of registered voters, or 775,300 people, cast ballots in New Mexico. In the 2000 general election, the number was about 63 percent, or 615,000 ballots cast.

If Secretary of State Mary Herrera’s prediction for 2008 holds up, the number of ballots cast would end up totalling more than 947,000.

“I think we’r...