Albuquerque Committee of the Whole FY2026 Budget Hearing - May 8, 2025
Albuquerque Committee of the Whole FY2026 Budget Hearing - May 8, 2025
On May 8, 2025, the City of Albuquerque Committee of the Whole held its second public hearing on the proposed FY2026 operating budget (R-25-132). The meeting focused on physical goals departments including aviation, municipal development, planning, general services, environmental health, transit, animal welfare, legal, solid waste, internal audit, inspector general, human resources, technology and innovation, finance and administration, and city support. The council heard public comments and department presentations, and postponed the budget item to May 15, 2025.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Francesco Artist expressed support for increasing public art funding, suggesting the city set aside additional funds from the $1.5 billion budget for projects like affordable housing or water conservation, and praised the existing 1.5% allocation for public art.
- Miguel Tipman, representing Albuquerque firefighters, thanked the council for addressing staffing but questioned Fire Chief's statements about paramedic safety, asserting the resolution only addresses paramedics on rescues, not engines. He argued that only 4 of the needed 20 positions for new Station 23 were requested, calling for more.
- Anami Das raised concerns about the Office of Civil Rights under city legal, noting it has been without staff for 15-16 months. He thanked councilors for questions on homelessness and housing, stating that permanent supportive housing is not meant to be sustainable. He also warned about risks of not enforcing discrimination laws.
Discussion Items
Council reviewed each department's proposed budget and key highlights. Notable exchanges included:
- Vacancies: Multiple departments reported significant vacancy rates, especially in planning (60 vacancies, 31 of which are progression positions), municipal development (60 vacancies, with 14 vacant over 300 days), and transit (100 MCO vacancies, 45% mechanic vacancy). Councilor Bassan requested a prioritized list of how long positions have been posted for five departments (senior affairs, planning, parks, IG, transit).
- Performance Measures: Concerns were raised about declining road condition index (34% excellent/good), reduction in Vision Zero project goals (from 13 in FY23 to 1 projected for FY26), and street sweeping curb miles (20,000 fewer than target). Councilor Rogers urged setting higher goals despite challenges.
- Budget & Funding: The cannabis equity fund (fund 202) is projected to receive $3.5 million in revenue for FY26. The legal department's budget includes positions that report to the Mayor's office, leading to debate about transparency and growth. Councilor Lewis noted the Mayor's office staff grew 100% since 2017 to 49 positions, with spending from $2 million to $6 million, while other departments remain stagnant.
- Transit Director Keener reported improved driver recruitment (19 hired in April-May) and retention efforts (increased split-shift pay, bus rodeo). However, pay remains low (starting $18.82/hr, top $23.20/hr) compared to regional peers. Council discussed the need for more funding to raise pay and fill vacancies.
- Animal Welfare Director Ortega highlighted reduced intake (6.5% decrease), increased adoptions (6% increase), and lower euthanasia (9% decrease). The Street Cat Hub TNR program is funded with $500,000, preventing an estimated $5 million in shelter costs.
- Solid Waste Deputy Director Larutia noted challenges with illegal dumping on the West Mesa, requesting evaluation of fee structures at convenience centers. The department employs 542 staff and services 180,000 residential accounts.
Key Outcomes
- The council voted 7-1 to postpone R-25-132 to May 15, 2025 (Councilor Lewis dissenting; Councilor Baca excused).
- Councilor Grout requested the administration provide answers to questions from the previous week by the next day and answers to new questions from tonight by the following Monday.
- Council will consider amendments and/or substitutes at the May 15 meeting before sending the budget to the May 19 City Council meeting for adoption.
Meeting Transcript
I call this meeting of the uh committee of the whole meeting to order. All counselors are present this evening with the exception of Councillor Bacca, who is excused, and Councillor Pena is on Zoom. We will start with a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilor Lewis is also on his way. Tonight is the second of three public hearings the council is required to hold on city operating budget. Ton's meeting will focus on the physical goals departments, which include municipal development, planning, general services, environmental health, transit, animal welfare, aviation, legal, solid waste, internal audit, and inspector general, human resources, technology and innovation, finance and administration, and city support. On May 15th, the council will hold a third committee of the whole meeting to consider amendments and or substitutes. No live public comment will be taken on the city's operating budget legislation R 25132. However, live public comment will be taken on the objectives legislation R25153. Written comments will be accepted at the May 15th meeting. At the end of the May 15th meeting, the budget as amended and or substituted will be sent to the Monday, May 19th City Council meeting for adoption. Live public comment and written comments will be accepted at the May 19th council meeting. Members of the public, city staff, and the media have the ability to view this meeting in person and on live streams through four different platforms. The live streams will can be accessed accessed from most smartphones, tablets, and or computers. Also, this meeting is closed captioned, and you may enable the closed captioning services on your television or device at this time. The video recording of this meeting will also remain available for viewing at any time on the City Council's website. Council staff is available via telephone. If members of the public need assistance, finding the videos online. Please call 505-768-3100 for assistance during business hours, which are Monday through Friday, 8 to 5 p.m. Members of the public have the opportunity to address the committee if they have signed up for public comment for the rules published on the agenda and our website Friday. We will now move to public comment. Here are the public comment ground rules. Each participant has two minutes to present. Comments are to be addressed to counselors only, and disruptive conduct will result in removal from the meeting. Mr. Cornelius, please call the name of the first speaker. Thank you, Madam Chair. Our first speaker is Francesco Artist, followed by Samantha Clemens. About 50 years ago, Albuquerque was the very first place or one of the first places in the entire country where they set aside one percent of the entire budget to public art. Recently, City Council bumped that up to 1.5% to not only create new pieces of art, but to protect and conserve the ones that are already part of our collection that act like the cherry on the top of the cake for our beautiful city. Shortly thereafter, early 80s, uh the city came into uh some uh came into some serious money and put that into a trust. And the interest from those dollars went towards uh people just like me, where we were allowed to put food on our table and a roof over our head just by creating art. I would encourage this city council to maybe shake off a couple crumbs from the 1.5 billion dollars that we're talking about here today, and create a uh an additional pot that will uh address things that are near and dear to your hearts, whether it's affordable housing or water conservation or studies about studies, and let that be the thing that is the gift that keeps them giving 50 years from now and beyond. Thank you. Samantha Clemens, followed by Miguel Titman. Miguel Titman, followed by Anami Das. Madam Chair, City Councillors, my name is Miguel Tipman. I represent the firefighters here now. I want to thank you first for um listening to us, giving us a seat of the table, uh, and addressing the very important staffing resolution that you guys helped us pass. Uh I was listening to last cow, the first cow, and I felt obligated to come and make some responses based on some some things that were said. Um, in regard to station 23 and the opening of a brand new station, long time coming, and how we do that. Um, it's imperative that we do it responsibly and with the safety of our firefighters in mind. Um, so when it was said, quote unquote, by our fire chief, we're still awaiting some legal interpretation on specifically the safety of the paramedic working independently on the engine. Since the hearing was three hours of concerns of paramedics working independently, I want to make an uh a stance openly today that the resolution stands for itself. The resolution specifically cites paramedic on rescues and does not address paramedics on engines at all. And I think you all are um well aware of the difference. Uh so for the fire chief to say something that is uh inaccurate, I think is is misleading. Um the second thing is I think it was misleading to put uh on on the budget in bright letters that the increase was 10.4 percent, and uh 11 million of that was going towards IFF uh bargain, which is true, but it was split in from 20 fiscal 25 and 26. And I think it was unfair to put all of that into one uh slide stating that uh that that the bulk of that is going to to us based off this financial year. Um, and then the most shocking to me was that those only uh requests for four additional positions.
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