The Government Restructuring Task Force made its first recommendations to streamline New Mexico’s government Thursday (July 29), passing a motion to merge the Gaming and Racing Commissions. The staff of the Legislative Finance Committee estimates that the move would save about $1.4 million. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.
The Racing Commission — which oversees pari-mutuel horseracing in the state — already shares the same building with the Gaming Control Board, which regulates legalized gaming at racetracks, as well as veterans’ and fraternal organizations. 
Merging the two agencies would require a repeal of sections of the respective statutes that cover the racing and gaming.
An important note: Just because the task force passes a motion, it does not mean it will become law. It simply means that the motion will become part of a stack of bills that will be forwarded to the legislature when it convenes in January.
The restructuring task force also passed three other motions but all three had more to do with enhancing government efficiency than actually saving money. They were:
- Moving youth mentoring from the Department of Finance and Administration to the Children, Youth and Families Department
- Merging the Organic Commission to the Department of Agriculture at New Mexico State
- Moving the Juvenile Public Safety Advisory Board to the Children, Youth and Families Department
In light of the state’s financial woes, the importance of Government Restructuring Task Force’s task has taken on a higher profile. Considering the depth of the crisis, today’s recommendations represent only a fraction of what’s needed to balance the budget, but as the Chinese proverb says: The longest journey begins with a single step.
