PED Presents Near-Flat $3.3B Budget Request For Schools PED News: SANTA FE — The New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) is requesting a near-flat $3.3 billion budget for public schools in the next fiscal year while rolling out plans to increase the share going to schools with the greatest need. “Equity is at the heart of this budget request,” Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart said. “We’re getting additional money to the kids who need it most while giving districts the flexibility to determine at a local level what their students need.” Stewart presented the Public School Support budget request to the Legislative Finance Committee Wednesday.