MOP-Chapter18

New Mexico Commission for the Blind

Manual of Operating Procedures

CHAPTER 18 – Authorized Rates for Various Services

Per Diem, Lodging, and Meal Rates

Per Diem Rates for State Fiscal Year 2026 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026)

Approved Rates (covers both lodging and meals):

• In-State $180.00 per day 
• In-State – County of Santa Fe (Special Area) $249.00 per day
• Out-of-State $180.00 per day
• Except for Santa Fe County, per diem rates are set at the standard federal General Services Administration rate.

Meals (apart from lodging):

• In-State $70.00 per day, including tips.
• Out-of-State $70.00 per day, including tips.

State Mileage Rate

• As of January 1, 2025: $0.67 per mile through December 31, 2025 (State Mileage Rate is 100% of the prior year’s federal Internal Revenue Service Standard Mileage Rate, per New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration regulation and Commission for the Blind policy)

Minimum Wage Rates

• Santa Fe and Santa Fe County: Effective March 1, 2025, Living Wage, $15.00 per hour.
• Las Cruces: Effective January 1, 2025, minimum wage, $12.65 per hour.
• Rest of New Mexico: Effective January 1, 2023, minimum wage, $12.00 per hour.
• New Mexico State Government Employees: Effective July 1, 2022, Minimum Pay Rate, $15.00 per hour.

Cell Phone Rate

• Rate for Cell Phone Voice/Text/Data Plans: Renewed August 1, 2025, $75.00 per month

Pay Rates for Readers and Tutors

• Tier 1: Effective July 27, 2023, $15.00 per hour, tagged to the minimum Pay Rate for New Mexico State Government Employees.
• Tier 2: Effective Spring 2025, $27.99 per hour, based on higher level of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the field of study. Tagged to the pay rate for Post-Masters Graduate Assistants at the University of New Mexico, where most graduate-level tutors are graduate assistants.