Albuquerque Committee of the Whole Budget Hearing – April 30, 2026

The Albuquerque City Council Committee of the Whole held a public hearing on the proposed FY27 operating budget, focusing on social goal departments. The meeting began at 5:00 PM and was extended multiple times, finally adjourning at 1:04 AM on May 1, 2026. The council heard public comments and presentations from departments including the City Clerk, Albuquerque Police Department (APD), Albuquerque Fire Rescue (AFR), Civilian Police Oversight Agency (CPOA), Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS), Health, Housing and Homelessness (HHH), Aviation, Parks and Recreation, Economic Development, Arts and Culture, and Senior Affairs. The council voted to postpone the budget resolution (R-26-17) to May 7, 2026.

Consent Calendar

• A motion to suspend rules to extend the meeting to 12:00 a.m. carried 7-1 (Rogers against, Baca excused).
• A motion to suspend rules to extend the meeting to 12:45 a.m. carried 7-1 (same vote).
• A motion to suspend rules to extend the meeting to 1:00 a.m. carried 7-1 (same vote).
• A motion to suspend rules to extend the meeting to 1:07 a.m. carried 7-1 (same vote).
• A motion to postpone R-26-17 (FY27 budget ordinance) to May 7, 2026, carried 8-0 (Baca excused).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lam Ho (resident, Library Advisory Board member) advocated for at least $500,000 in annual recurring IT funding for libraries and to fill open staffing positions.
• Janet Sayers (Library Advisory Board chair) urged the city to change technology funding for libraries from non-recurring to recurring, and to increase staffing to avoid closures during lunches and early closings.
• Kit Kopec (Friends of the Albuquerque Public Library president) stated that the public library should be funded with public money, not rely on private supplements for core operations. She noted the library system sees over 1.5 million in-person visitors annually and offers nearly 10,000 programs each year.
• Julia Clark (Library Advisory Board and Library Foundation board) asked for recurring IT funding at $500,000 and sufficient positions to maintain reliable schedules.
• Grace Dukes criticized the mayor's budget as a "priority budget" that cuts 247 vital roles while APD receives 19% of the city's budget. She highlighted cuts to teaching positions at child development centers, a 76% reduction in substance use programming, a 17% cut to mental health, and a 22% cut to health and human services. She argued the $73 million reserve should be used to protect vulnerable residents.
• William Pentler (former zookeeper and park ranger) expressed concern over cuts to open space and the biopark, noting that open space positions would be reduced to one full-time park attendant for the entire city. He also criticized the city's fleet management policy requiring minimum mileage, calling it wasteful.
• Ann Curl (District 3 resident) complained about unresponsive council staff and staffing issues at the Alamosa Library branch, which forces frequent closures.
• Nikhil Pylor (District 4 voter) urged full funding for transit, arguing that cutting transit while gas prices rise is counterproductive. He noted violent crime is near a five-year low and questioned the largest share of budget increases going to APD.
• Tom Guralnick (Outpost Performance Space founder) thanked the council for past support and requested continued funding for arts programs, including the merged New Mexico Jazz Workshop.
• Julie Rugg (New Mexico Biopark Society executive director) opposed eliminating the event supervisor position, which generated over $600,000 in revenue in 2025. She noted that cutting this position has already led to a 40% drop in event bookings, a $250,000 loss. She also asked that $250,000 for animal diets and medications be made recurring, not non-recurring.
• Bruce Heinrich (Biopark Society board member) echoed the need for recurring funding for animal food and medications, and for event planners, suggesting a modest admission fee increase (unchanged since 2017).
• Neil Copperman (AMP Concerts executive director) requested continued funding for free music programs in libraries, open spaces, and parks, noting over 23,000 people have attended library concerts.
• Carl Kaiser (Open Space Advisory Board member) opposed the proposed cuts of four positions in open space (two educators, two park attendants), stating that one park attendant for the entire city is insufficient and leads to a "free-for-all" on public lands.
• Kristen Lee (Explora co-executive director) asked to restore a $250,000 cut to Explora's operating funding and make it recurring. She noted Explora serves over 300,000 people annually and leverages significant outside funding.
• Sheldon Hamilton (Explora leadership) also requested restoration of the $250,000 cut, reading a letter from a former student who credited Explora with helping her get into a PhD program.
• Julie Radoslovich (Metropolitan Parks and Recreation Advisory Board chair) urged restoring contractual services ($2.1 million cut) and protecting core staff positions, noting that with only 50 full-time staff for nearly 300 parks, seasonal workers and contractual services are essential.
• Jesus Munoz (speaker) opposed the budget, criticizing cuts to transit, libraries, and city workers' pay, while increasing APD funding. He noted that Baltimore, a similar-sized city, has far more library staff.
• Nicole Finch (Library Advisory Board, District 9) stressed that the library budget must fully fund and staff the system, including recurring IT funding, and that a budget is a moral document.
• Yasmin Najmi (Open Space Advisory Board) urged maintaining permanent staff in open space, especially educators and park attendants, and restoring contractual services to manage open spaces and implement public engagement plans.
• Steve Glass (Open Space Alliance) spoke in support of funding for open space, noting Albuquerque's high ratio of parkland to population is a tourist attraction.
• Althea Atherton (speaker) quoted the Librarian of Congress, calling libraries the "cornerstone of democracy" and transit the "connective cement" for all social issues. She urged full funding for libraries and transit, including competitive pay for bus drivers.
• Rudolph Serrano criticized the city for restricting access to open space and opposed funding for THC-related programs, linking them to schizophrenia and crime. He also expressed frustration with Explora for denying his request for 3D printing assistance.

Discussion Items

• CFO Questions: Councilor Grout and others asked about the one-time compensation adjustment, general fund projections, and the use of non-recurring funds. CFO Martinez and budget officer Kevin Noel explained that the FY27 budget assumes a balanced general fund with an $8.1 million fund balance, including $4 million from proposed stormwater fees and $5.5 million in surcharges. Councilor Lewis questioned the administration's commitment to affordability given fee increases, and CAO Sangle defended the proposal as necessary for critical infrastructure and wage increases.
• City Clerk: Presented budget of $5.045 million, with cuts of two document imaging positions and a $400,000 reallocation to risk fund for temporary staff. Councilors raised concerns about using risk fund for ongoing IPRA work and the lack of outcome-based metrics.
• APD: Budget of $278.2 million, with 1,100 sworn positions (917 filled), 726 civilian, and 69 grant positions. Includes $7.2 million cut and elimination of 63 positions (55 civilian, 8 brass), offset by 50 new police service aides (total 100) and $1.1 million transfer of Office of Emergency Management. Overtime spending was $24 million in FY26; budgeted $11.7 million for FY27. Councilors questioned overtime reliance, staffing model, and the impact of cutting a victim advocate position.
• AFR: Budget of $138.3 million, with 789 sworn positions. Includes $1 million reduction in overtime, $4.8 million for negotiated wage increases, and reallocation of desks to field. Chief noted that support fill will be prioritized before overtime. Councilors discussed overtime as a structural staffing model and the need to build a float pool.
• CPOA: Budget of $3.124 million, with 21 positions. Highlights include mediation program (36 cases since mid-2025) and 264 policy recommendations (62.5% acceptance rate). Councilors requested more outcome-based metrics.
• ACS: Budget of $19.8 million, with 146 positions. $1.9 million increase for 15 new positions and school-based violence intervention. Director reported 84% call diversion from APD, 126,000 calls diverted year-to-date, and a 69% increase in transports. Councilors discussed cost-effectiveness and the need for better metrics on recidivism and housing outcomes.
• HHH: Budget of $48.8 million, with 78 positions. Highlights include three new housing developments (190 units), fully operational programs at Gateway, and $780,000 from HB2 for various housing initiatives. Councilors questioned the low housing exit rate from shelters (3% based on provided data) and the large number of non-recurring items for ongoing needs (e.g., AOT, affordable housing vouchers).
• Aviation: Enterprise fund budget of $85.3 million, with 313 positions. Director discussed the "Dream of Flight" renovation, observation deck, and FAA designation for autonomous flight testing. Councilors asked about the transfer of $45 million to capital fund, which was clarified as a reduction in transfers, not an actual transfer.
• Parks and Recreation: Director noted difficult cuts, including 10 positions (all vacant), $2.1 million cut in contractual services, and $1.27 million reduction in open space management. Councilors expressed concern about open space staffing, fire risk mitigation, and the proposed weekend surcharge at the biopark, which the director said is intended to even out attendance, not just raise revenue.
• Economic Development: Budget of $53.8 million, with 407 positions. Director highlighted the JTA program ($21 return per city dollar invested) and LEDA (job creation fund). Councilor Lewis expressed strong support for the department and urged a closer working relationship. Councilor Teyas asked about site readiness programs.
• Arts and Culture: Director explained that non-recurring items for animal food and library IT have been funded that way for years. Councilor Feeblecorn questioned the prioritization of large events like Freedom Fourth ($350,000 from arts) over smaller community events and basic needs like animal feed.
• Senior Affairs: Director clarified that coffee remains free at senior centers, but guidelines have been added. She noted the $200,000 reduction in the area agency on aging grant and the need for a subsidy to support fund 250. The new Northwest Multi-Generational Center is set to open with five staff positions.

Key Outcomes

• Postponement: R-26-17 (FY27 budget) was postponed to May 7, 2026, by a unanimous vote (8-0, Baca excused).
• Rule Suspensions: Four motions to extend the meeting were approved, each with a 7-1 vote (Rogers against, Baca excused).
• No formal votes on budget amendments: The meeting was informational; amendments will be considered at the May 14 Committee of the Whole and final adoption on May 18.
• Directives: Councilors requested better outcome-based metrics from all departments, a list of motels receiving city-funded vouchers, and analysis of cost overlap between public safety departments. Further discussion on fee increases and surcharges will continue.