Archive for July, 2009

Last week the Legislative Finance Committee and the Department of Finance and Administration released a four page update about the state economy. Being the government money counters that they are, they started with the cash. What is called the “invested general fund balance” stood at $1.6 billion on May 30, down about one-third from May 30 of the past two years.

The money just isn’t appearing, the report says. Gross receipts taxes are 3.6% behind the projections used for the current budget.

The report is posted on our Articles / Issues page.

The Journal had a woman standing the entrance of a northeast Albuquerque kMart this afternoon, selling subscriptions. She had a table with newspapers but no supporting marketing material such as signs to draw passersby.

OK, the Department of Work Force Services only applied the phrase “a sharp turn for the worse since the start of the year” to Santa Fe’s employment picture. But no matter, it fits statewide. DWS released the monthly employment report this morning.

Year over year, pretty awful is the best description of New Mexico’s economic performance. 

Government and education and health services were the two sectors adding jobs. Indian casinos and resort operations explain the government increase, DWS said. The growth is not likely to continue. Another government boost comes from new Census Bureau employees. The health services component of education and health services provided 87% of the sector’s 3,800 increase. DWS’ explanation is that we are getting older.

Since June 2008, New Mexico has lost 26,400 jobs, a drop of 3.1%. Albuquerque is down 13,000 jobs, or 3.3%. Santa Fe has lost 2,800 wage jobs, a 4.2% decline. In Las Cruces, the decline is 2.9% or 2,000 jobs. Farmington has lost “only” 800″ jobs, a 1.5% drop. 

Santa Fe’s 6.3% unemployment rate was the only metro area unemployment rate under the statewide 7.3% unemployment. Unemployment in Las Cruces was 7.3%; Albuquerque, 7.7%; Farmington 7.8%.

Statewide, some well-paid sectors show big losses. Manufacturing is down 10.5%; mining, 9.4%; construction, 14.6%. Construction has lost 8,600 jobs since June 2008.

Eighteen New Mexico cities have a population of more than 10,000, according to figures for July 1, 2008 released a few weeks ago by the Census Bureau. 

Albuquerque is the largest city with 521,999. No other city breaks 100,000. 

Las Cruces, population 91,865, has added 10,600 in the past four years. With the border-area growth projections—Fort Bliss, Santa Teresa, White Sands—Las Cruces can be expected to add the next 10,000 people faster than the last 10,000. 

By percentage, Rio Rancho is the fastest grower among the top 18 with a 54%, or 27,890 person, increase since the April 2000 census. Albuquerque suburb Los Lunas shows 41% growth, second fastest, to 14,153 in 2008.

Four cities among the top 18 lost population between 2000 and 2008: Silver City (-216); Las Vegas (-747); Gallup (-230); and Clovis (-315).

New Mexico has nine “cities” (Villages? hamlets? wide places in the road?) with fewer than 100 people. There are 28 with from 100 to 1,000 people, 32 from 1,000 to 5,000, and 16 from 5,000 to 10,000.

A table showing city population is posted on our Articles / Issues page. The title is, “Population Incorporated Places, 2008.”

Eighteen of New Mexico’s incorporated municipalities are in the four counties of metro Albuquerque. The smallest of the metro’s villages, towns and cities is Encino, located on the plains of Torrance County with a population of 89. The largest is Albuquerque, population 521,999, or 5,865 times larger than Encino. Albuquerque, the nation’s 34th largest city, grew 1.3%, or 6,603 people, between 2007 and 2008.
These population figures, for July 1, 2008, were released recently by the Census Bureau (www.census.gov). A table summarizing the census data is posted in the articles / issues section. The table’s title is, “City Population, Abq MSA, 7-1-08.”
Rio Rancho’s 54% increase to 79,655 residents since the census in 2000 appears to be the metro’s fastest growth rate. Los Lunas is next with 41% growth.
The Census Bureau claims that the population of Cuba, in rural Sandoval County, is up 130% with most of the increase in the last four years. Area media grabbed the Census report with a sort of man-bites-dog enthusiasm. However, Cuba Village Clerk Vandora Casados says the Census report is wrong. For sure, a recent drive through Cuba shows no evidence of much of anything.
The metro may get another city. A group in the south valley of Bernalillo County is working to incorporate the area, where the population is estimated at 50,000.
“Valle de Atrisco” is the name chosen for the area if it incorporates. State Rep. Miguel Garcia is one of the leaders of the incorporation campaign. The project website is www.southvalleyinc.info.