The New Mexico legislature is in the final process of completing the state budget. Citizens of the state of New Mexico and most especially rural Southern New Mexico in counties such as Otero County, New Mexico take issue with the Federal government and Federal directives on money spent however the influence of funding from the Federal Government and jobs paid for by the Federal government cannot be understated.
There is much talk about reliance on oil and gas proceeds for the state budget and the need to diversify the economy of New Mexico. The debate needs to extend to not only diversifying the economy from its reliance on oil and gas proceeds but also diversifying the economy from the trough of government spending which may not always be reliable as congress figures its way out of large budget deficits.
Otero County New Mexico facts: 37.28 percent were employed in government and government enterprises, thus rather we like it or not Otero County’s economy is highly reliant on the government trough. Military and government are the largest employers in Otero County. Military employed 15.44 percent of the total employment of city, county state and federal government is almost 22%.