By Rodd Cayton Albuquerque is moving closer to having a budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. City Councilors, Thursday night, sought answers from department heads as they search for the best use of $1.5 billion. At Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, they questioned staff on topics that included performance metrics, hiring efforts and future […]
Rodd Cayton
Rodd Cayton is a senior reporter with nm.news covering local news and government as a local reporting fellow with NM Reports.
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
Congestion now, freedom later?
By Rodd Cayton City of Albuquerque crews are preparing to launch what is being billed as the largest construction project in city history, to the benefit of Westside drivers. The Unser and Paseo del Norte widening project will start this fall, and will include new lighting, bike lanes and trails as well as adding traffic […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ, Congress & Federal Gov., Local Government
Council to review Keller’s budget proposal
By Rodd Cayton The public is invited again Thursday to give input on Albuquerque’s fiscal year 2026 budget. Mayor Tim Keller last month proposed a $1.5 billion spending plan, which City Councilors are now reviewing. Meeting as the Committee of the Whole, all nine councilors will take public input regarding the budget and capital improvements […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ, Congress & Federal Gov., Local Government
Library advocates want budget increase
By Rodd Cayton Public library advocates Monday went to bat again for their cause, urging the Albuquerque City Council to boost it as the city’s fiscal year 2026 budget takes shape. Mayor Tim Keller’s proposed budget includes about $16.54 million for libraries, which is down about $49,000 from fiscal year 2025. Janet Saiers, who sits […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government
City Council approves behavioral health voucher database
By Rodd Cayton Albuquerque City Councilors Monday approved a contract to produce a database aimed at simplifying access to addiction treatment and support services. Contractor Real Time Solutions will be paid $300,000 for creating the database, designed to help administer vouchers for the Providing Addiction Treatment and Healing (PATH) program. City officials say the Albuquerque-based […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness
Gateway navigation deal gets green light from City Council
By Rodd Cayton Albuquerque City Councilors voted Monday night to approve a deal for a nonprofit organization that will help women experiencing homelessness make the transition into stable housing. Approval of the professional services agreement with Chicanos Por La Causa was delayed two weeks after councilors sought more information about the organization’s current work. Chicanos […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government
Proposed cuts to ABQ libraries panned
By Rodd Cayton Several public library supporters Tuesday evening told Albuquerque City Councilors the system needs more money, not less. The entire council met as the Committee of the Whole, which considers the budget and the capital improvements program proposed by the mayor. In the $1.5 billion budget proposal revealed last month by Mayor Tim […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government
Keller slams Trump administration’s cuts to minority small business aid
by Rodd Cayton Mayor Tim Keller said a Donald Trump administration action terminating federal funding for a local business assistance organization is an attack on New Mexico’s diversity. Keller has been vocal about actions from the Trump administration he said are harming the city. City officials say the New Mexico Minority Business Development Agency (NM […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government
Mayor’s proposed budget would increase zoo ticket prices by a dollar
By Rodd Cayton Albuquerque City Councilors last year avoided several proposed fee increases for popular amenities. Mayor Tim Keller’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 brings back one notable increase for a second try: He’s floating a $1 hike for admission to the BioPark. Last year, the City Council kept in place a $5-per-ticket increase […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government
It’s budget time in Albuquerque again
By Rodd Cayton Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller proposed a $1.5 billion city budget for fiscal year 2026 earlier this month, kicking off the annual budget process in the city. Now, the city council will start its process, which includes public participation, to finalize a budget before the end of May. Thursday will be the first […]