Some big buck property expenditures are on the table for Bernalillo County commissioners to debate at their May 15 meeting. Also up for consideration is an amended resolution to establish a process for hiring a county manager, extending a tax to support the University of New Mexico Hospital and increasing money for public art. Tax […]
County Government
Posted inCounty Government, Education, Housing & Homelessness
County says detox clients increasingly younger, on fentanyl
Activity at the entrance of Bernalillo County’s detoxification center in Albuquerque picks up around 6 pm on most nights but that doesn’t mean the CARE Campus isn’t buzzing at other hours of the day. “In the last year we’ve seen a lot of individuals just looking for a place to be, and that usually happens […]
Posted inBernCo, County Government, Housing & Homelessness
Bernalillo County’s Tiny Home Village hits a stride
Progress didn’t come easy, but Bernalillo County officials say the Tiny Home Village withstood a rocky start to emerge as a project with promise in an area of Albuquerque that desperately needs it. Now, three years in, the county is fielding questions from Albuquerque officials who are in the early stages of a similar undertaking […]
Posted inBernCo, County Government
State’s largest jail gets a new warden
After months with an interim warden overseeing the Metropolitan Detention Center, Bernalillo County has hired a new warden — from Florida — who will start his new position on June 17. Steven Kai Smith is currently a warden with the Volusia County Division of Corrections in Daytona Beach, Florida, according to a news release from […]
Posted inBernCo, County Government
NMDOJ investigates complaints about county commissioners
The New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) is investigating claims that some members of the Bernalillo County Commission have violated meeting rules. In a letter dated April 24, and addressed to County Manager Julie Morgas Baca and Attorney Ken Martinez, the NMDOJ said, “Based on the materials reviewed, there are indications that deliberations on public […]
Posted inBernCo, County Government, Housing & Homelessness
Commission publishes first-of-its-kind behavioral health ordinance
Bernalillo County residents may soon see a different, more efficient network aimed at helping them meet their behavioral health needs. The Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved the publication of an ordinance that would create a behavioral health authority that would unify county behavioral health efforts. Vice Chair Eric Olivas said before the meeting that […]
Posted inBernCo, County Government
Commissioners send message against reusing fracking wastewater
Pleas to save the groundwater from oil and gas wastewater flooded Tuesday night’s Bernalillo County Commission meeting. Public Pleas More than a dozen public comments were in support of a resolution to oppose a proposed rule change that would change the parameter of how all fracked wastewater can be reused. The rule change proposed by […]
Posted inBernCo, County Government
WHAT TO EXPECT: Commissioners try to revisit controversial process to hire county manager
If at first you don’t succeed — try again. Bernalillo County Commissioners Steven Michael Quezada and Walt Benson will try to get a controversial resolution on the agenda for the commission’s Tuesday meeting to allow it to revisit the process to hire a county manager. The two commissioners will need some help from their colleagues […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, County Government
Albuquerque residents may soon see water rate hike
Your water rates may soon be going up. Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority will be asking for a 12% rate increase. The water utility staff presented their Fiscal Year 2025 budget to the governing board asking for a water and sewage rate increase at their meeting held Wednesday What does this mean for you? […]
Posted inBernCo, County Government
Could County Commissioners face fines for violating the Open Meetings Act?
At last Tuesday’s Bernalillo County Commission meeting, Commissioners Steven Michael Quezada and Walt Benson alleged they were not included in decisions regarding selecting a new county manager. These complaints reached the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government in the following days. City Desk ABQ asked Melanie Majors, executive director of the Foundation for Open Government […]