FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2021
Contact:
Tarin Nix, Deputy Commissioner of Public Affairs
tnix@slo.state.nm.us
State Land Office Releases FY 2021 Annual Report
SANTA FE, NM – Today, the State Land Office released its Annual Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. New Mexico state agencies are required to report to the Governor on activities and accomplishments of the previous year by December 1st of each calendar year. For the third fiscal year in a row, the State Land Office has generated record revenue exceeding $1 billion.
Read the Report: New Mexico State Land Office FY 2021 Annual Report
The FY 2021 report from the State Land Office to the Governor outlines total revenue raised and the earnings for each of the 22 Trust beneficiaries, as well as a detailed overview of highlights from each of the State Land Office’s leasing and operational divisions.
Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard released the following statement regarding the FY 2021 Annual Report:
“I am so proud of the history-making programs and over a billion dollars in record-breaking revenue continuing for a third year in a row at the State Land Office. Thanks to the 160 talented and dedicated staff members, we tripled our renewable energy footprint, held bad actors accountable, and delivered groundbreaking wins for New Mexicans, our public lands, and our beneficiaries.
Along with earning over $1.2 billion on behalf of New Mexico’s schools, colleges, and
hospitals, we established the first Enforcement and Accountability Program to protect public land and save New Mexicans millions in cleanup costs.
We made tribal consultation and protection of cultural properties on state trust land a priority for the first time by establishing the Cultural Resources Office. The office is working to institute genuine tribal consultation practices and started official rulemaking to require cultural properties surveys on all new ground disturbing activity on state trust land.
In our continued effort to diversify revenue, we launched major economic development projects including the expansion of Netflix’s global production center on 130 acres of trust land at Mesa del Sol and the initial lease for Prewitt Business Park at the former Escalante Generating Station in McKinley County. We continue to work with Bernalillo County on the 630-acre recreational complex that supports youth sports programs, NM United soccer practice fields, and LiveNation concerts.
We added over 14 premier public land destinations on state trust land for people to enjoy, expanded backpacking in the Luera Mountains and dispersed camping in White Peak, worked with the City of Albuquerque and the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge to expand access to the Rio Grande Bosque, and signed a four-year game and fish easement guaranteeing hunting and angling throughout New Mexico and investments to increase access on state trust land.
This year we renewed our efforts to increase fuelwood opportunities for New Mexico Land Grants and expanded affordable housing opportunities in Albuquerque. We continue to be open for business at the State Land Office. We look forward to generating even more revenue and opportunities for New Mexicans for years to come.”
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Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard has overseen the New Mexico State Land Office since 2019. In that time, the agency has raised over $3.5 billion for New Mexico public schools, hospitals, and universities. Over 13 million acres of state trust land are leased for a variety of uses, including ranching and farming, renewable energy, business development, mineral development, and outdoor recreation. The State Land Office has a dual mandate to use state trust land to financially support vital public institutions, while simultaneously working to protect the land for future generations.