Gov. Susana Martinez's administration says it wants to avoid cuts in a lottery-financed college scholarship program this spring by having the Legislature shore up the program temporarily with general tax revenues.
Higher Education Secretary Jose Garcia said in a letter to colleges and universities on Monday that scholarship awards, which fully cover tuition for eligible students, will be reduced if lawmakers fail to act in a 30-day session starting in January.
The lottery will provide about $40 million for the program this year but scholarships will cost more.
The administration estimates there could be a shortfall of $15 million to $20 million.
Garcia said the Legislature should plug this year's gap with money from the state's general budget account and revamp the program to keep it solvent in the future.
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