LFC Director plays key role in budget development and agency oversight

Santa Fe, NM - The Legislative Finance Committee, with bi-partisan leadership from the New Mexico House and Senate, has opened a national search for a new Director of the state’s Legislative Finance Committee (LFC), following the announcement that longtime LFC Director David Abbey will retire at the end of May. 

As the Legislature’s primary fiscal advisor, the Director leads the annual budget recommendation process and the oversight of state agencies for the non-partisan Legislative Finance Committee. The Director manages a staff of analysts, economists, and researchers, organizes interim committee hearings, and oversees the development of reports on agency progress, policy issues, and the fiscal impact of proposed legislation. The Director also helps facilitate collaboration between parties and chambers in establishing the state’s budget. 

“The LFC Director plays a vital role in our state by helping us develop a responsible budget framework to address our biggest challenges and ensure that our state agencies are best serving the needs of New Mexicans,” said LFC Chair George Muñoz (D-Gallup). “We look forward to finding a strong new Director with a unique combination of fiscal and policy expertise, collaborative skills, and a passion for public service, to fill the big shoes left by Director Abbey.” 

“The next LFC Director will help guide our state’s fiscal policy at a pivotal moment in our history. New Mexico’s record revenues present unprecedented opportunities and enormous responsibility,” said LFC Vice Chair Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces). “This is a dream job for someone with the right knowledge, skills, and experience to keep our state moving forward in ways that are responsible and reflect our New Mexican values.” 

“Good governance requires steadfast diligence with taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars,” said Senator Bill Sharer (R-Farmington), the ranking Senate Republican on the LFC. “We hope the next Director of the Legislative Finance Committee will continue to work hand in glove with our legislators to lead New Mexico to financial prosperity.” 

“The next LFC Director has large shoes to fill. New Mexico's economy is notoriously unpredictable, and despite our recent billions in surplus funds, what we need is fiscal responsibility and a director with a prescient vision for the future to advise and work with our legislature as we build our budget,” said Representative Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena), the ranking House Republican on the LFC. “I look forward to learning more about the national search to select our next LFC Director and trust that the process will be transparent and fair to the working families that create the revenue we steward.” 

Applications are due by Tuesday, May 23 at Noon. More information and directions to apply can be found on the official job listing at: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Publications/Employment/LFC%20Director%20Job%20Description.pdf