Finance

Santa Fe is moving to overhaul how it builds its annual budget after city documents acknowledged recent budgets were not tied to long-term goals and focused more on line items than service outcomes. For taxpayers, the process matters because it can shape service reliability, the pace of tax or fee changes, and long-run borrowing costs that filter into future bills.

FEMA placed the director of New Mexico’s wildfire claims office on administrative leave after reporting revealed he and his wife received more than $500,000 from the program he oversees. The $5.45 billion compensation fund has paid out about $3.4 billion so far, as some claimants continue to wait years for relief.

A practical 2026 investing checklist starts with cash flow and an emergency buffer, then shifts to contribution increases, automation, tax organization, and disciplined rebalancing. For New Mexico taxpayers, state-specific deductions—such as the New Mexico 529 benefit—can influence which accounts to prioritize.

EP Wealth Advisors has added Santa Fe-based LongView Asset Management, a $390 million AUM registered investment adviser, in a deal that closed January 30. The move expands EP Wealth’s New Mexico presence and brings LongView’s sustainable-investing focus under a larger platform offering broader planning services.

Everfi said it and nine partners are committing more than $1.5 million in student scholarships tied to completion of financial and life-skills education. The initiative comes as college affordability remains a leading barrier to enrollment, according to data cited in the announcement.