Hatten-Gonzales v. Earnest

Filing 881

AMENDED ORDER by District Judge Kenneth J. Gonzales. (tah)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO
DEBRA HATTEN-GONZALES, et al.,
Plaintiffs,
vs.

No. CIV 88-0385 KG/CG
Consolidated with
No. CIV 88-0786 KG/CG

DAVID SCRASE, Secretary of the
New Mexico Human Services Department,
Defendant.
AMENDED ORDER
This matter comes before the Court sua sponte and the Special Master’s August 14, 2019,
proposed increase to the budget for the Special Master and Compliance Officer salary.
The Court notes that certain employees of the State of New Mexico received a 4 percent
pay increase in fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019.
The Court also notes all federal employees received a 1.9 percent Employment Cost
Index (ECI) adjustment during fiscal year 2019 that includes a 1.4 percent across-the-board ECI
adjustment and an average locality adjustment of 0.5 percent.
The Special Master and Compliance Officer both are acting in their duties in this case on
behalf of the United States District Court.
The Court previously approved the budget for the Special Master, including that for
salaries (Doc. 770).
The costs associated with the budget, including that for salaries of both the Special
Master and Compliance Officer are paid by the State of New Mexico.

The Court also notes the progress made in this case, due to the efforts of the Special
Master, Compliance Officer and the parties to eliminate significant backlogs in all program
areas, achieve timeliness standards, and improve access to services for applicants and clients.
The Court finds a budget increase is reasonable and, therefore, approves a 4 percent
increase to the budget for the Special Master and Compliance Officer salaries. Specifically, the
Court approves a 1.9 percent ECI adjustment commensurate with that for federal employees and
an additional 2.1 percent increase to achieve an increase commensurate with certain state
employees, for a total 4 percent budget increase.
IT IS ORDERED that the Order (Doc. 770) approving the budget for the Special Master
is amended as follows:
1. Special Master salary will increase from $200,000.00 to $208,000.00 per year; and
2. Compliance Officer salary will increase from $125,000.00 to $130,000.00 per year.

____________________________________
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE