New Mexico is cited as a “leading example” of performance management for its use of state agency performance report cards, program evaluations, and other evidence-based tools in a newly released report by Results for America.
The organization, a national nonprofit focused on evidence-based decision- making in government, in the newly released report 2023 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence cites New Mexico as a model for performance management for incorporating evidence and data in decisions and creating a culture of accountability.
New Mexico was also one of five states awarded an honorable mention for its growing commitment to evidence-based policymaking, along with California, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Utah. Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oregon and Tennessee were given top honors.
'Being named an honorable mention state proves quality people and hard work can make change and make government function. I am proud of our staff and what we have achieved,” said Senator George Muñoz, LFC chair.
“Right now, New Mexico has the unusual opportunity to invest wisely in ways that will pay dividends for years to come,” said Representative Nathan Small, vice chairman. “We’re proud to be recognized for our strategic, results-focused budgeting process, which leverages federal funds and will generate future dollars to provide impactful results for our communities.”
The Results for America report, released Wednesday at a virtual event co-hosted by the National Governors Association, highlights advances in evidence-based grantmaking, budgeting, and direct services, and identifies 194 efforts across 46 states to build and use evidence and data to achieve better, more equitable results for residents.
Results for American reported highlights of New Mexico’s work were:
• Implementing LegisStat to improve collaboration between the Legislative Finance Committee and agency heads on performance challenges and successes.
• Investing in community participation, including $3 million to support coalitions to advise the Early Childhood Education and Care Department
needs.
• Promoting equitable outcomes through budget language and evidence- based investing, including helping to narrow the educational achievement gap.
“In red states and blue states, state governments are harnessing the power of evidence and data to deliver better results,” said Michele Jolin, CEO and co-founder of Results for America. “Governors, state legislators and state agency leaders are using the key levers of power – grantmaking, budgeting and direct services – to expand evidence-based solutions and accelerate economic mobility. By building more efficient and effective governments, they are helping restore the public’s faith in government’s ability to tackle our most urgent challenges.”
LFC Performance Budgeting Cited as “Leading Example” in National Report NM Also Receives Honorable Mention in Results for America Report