By Rodd Cayton
Albuquerque City Councilors continue to work through building a spending plan for fiscal year 2026.
They’ll get more scrutinous after Thursday evening as they fine-tune adjustments to Mayor Tim Keller’s $1.5 billion proposed budget. All nine councilors make up the budget-focused Committee of the Whole.
The overall budget, including all revenue sources, is up by about $102.5 million. The general fund budget is $870.4 million, an increase of $19.2 million from fiscal year 2025.
The markup meeting comes after several meetings on the budget, including two focused on public comment on the mayor’s proposed funding for various city departments.
There will be no public comment at this meeting, though residents will have the opportunity to make themselves heard Monday, when the City Council sits to consider adopting the budget as amended.
In his budget letter to the council, Keller said the spending plan prioritizes public safety, addressing the homelessness crisis, improving the city’s behavioral health network and supporting small businesses.
In addition, Keller wrote, the budget has built-in flexibility that will help the city respond to rising inflation and economic disruptions or move money as needed should certain federal grants be eliminated.
Budget amounts for city departments include:
- $286.9 million for the Albuquerque Police Department.
- $143.25 million for city support, which manages debt service, employee retirement plans and other functions. While listed as a department in the budget, city support has no designated personnel.
- $139 million for Albuquerque Fire Rescue.
- $118 million for human resources.
- $113.9 million for the Aviation Department, which operates Albuquerque International Sunport and Double Eagle II Airport.
- $59.9 million for Health, Housing, and Homelessness.
The agenda for Monday’s meeting will be available here starting Friday. Anyone wishing to speak at a City Council or committee meeting must sign up in advance.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
WHEN: 5 p.m. May 15 (markup meeting), May 19 (regular City Council meeting).
WHERE: Vincent E. Griego Chambers in the Albuquerque Government Center, 1 Civic Plaza NW VIRTUAL: GOV-TV or on the city’s YouTube channel
