City Hall Spending Increases 53% Over 9 years Under Mayor Tim Keller; Astonishing Funding Made For So Few Unhoused For Services And Shelter They Do Not Want; Keller And City Council Need To Find Better Approach To Unhoused Crisis To Get Them Off Streets

Posted on June 11, 2026 by Pete Dinelli

On December 1, 2017, Mayor Tim Keller was sworn into office for his first of three four year terms after being elected each time with landslide margins. He has now submitted a total of 9 annual budgets reviewed and approved by the City Council.

This article addresses the recently enacted 2017 City Hall Budget and discusses the dramatic 53% increase in city hall budgets over the 8 and a half years Mayor Keller has been in office and the funding made for services and shelter for the unhoused they do not want.

2027 CITY BUDGET APPROVED

On May 18, 2026 the Albuquerque City Council voted to approve the City’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget with the passage of a City Council Resolution which appropriated $1.5 billion for operating the City Of Albuquerque for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2026 and ends on June 30, 2027. There are 27 City Departments. Each budget is reviewed by the council by what is called the Committee of the Whole made up of all city councilors. The city budget is what is called a performance-based budget. Throughout the year, city departments are tasked with compiling statistics and information on the departments to justify budgets and increases or decreases in personnel levels.

SHELTER AND SERVICES TO UNHOUSED TOP PRIORITY

Under the city council’s approved fiscal year ‘27 budget, increased services to the unhoused remain the City’s top priorities in the approved budget. The approved budget directs more resources to frontline response to deal with the unhoused.

ALBUQUERQUE COMMUNITY SAFETY (ACS)

Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) was given a 10.5% budget increase to $19.8 million for the 2027 fiscal year, including $261,000 for raises. The budget increase is intended to increase field response and street outreach. ACS personnel have backgrounds as social workers, clinicians and counselors and respond to 911 calls reporting people suffering from addiction, homelessness and mental health emergencies. The approved budget would fund 156 full-time positions, up from 142 currently. The ACS department will have a $2 million investment to expand field response and double the size of its Street Outreach Team, freeing up APD officers and strengthening the City’s ability to respond to behavioral health calls and homelessness with specialized, civilian-led interventions. $500,000 would be reallocated for motel vouchers.

HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT

The council approved FY27 budget continues to build a coordinated system of care designed to move individuals from crisis to stability through outreach, shelter, treatment, and housing. The coordinated system is know as the Gateway system.

The approved FY27 budget increases funding by 9.5% to $48.9 million for the city’s Health, Housing and Homelessness Department, and fully funds the Gateway System of Care for the unhouse. The council approved FY27 budget includes $8 million for affordable housing vouchers. The approved budget contains funding for 98 full-time positions, of which 78 are paid from the city’s general fund. Another 20 personnel are paid by grant funding.

The Gateway System is fully funded under the FY27 budget to ensure operational stability as services continue to come online, supporting shelter, treatment, and housing pathways for those most in need. Expanded outreach through ACS will strengthen connections into this system and improve coordination across services.

The Gateway System of support for people struggling with homelessness and drug and substance addiction consists of the following:

Gateway Center– (Located on Gibson.) Campus providing medical, behavioral, and social services including overnight beds, first responder intake, medical sobering and respite. Old Lovelace Hospital city purchased for $15 million costing $95 million to remodel into shelter and supposedly providing assistance to upwards of 1,000 unhoused per month.
Gateway West – Safe, supportive 660-bed facility for individuals experiencing homelessness, offering specialized resources and case management. Annual Impact: 5,700 Individuals. Open 24/7 Since 2019.
Gateway Family – Supportive housing center for families with overnight beds, meals, and case management to help achieve stable housing. Annual Impact: 987 Individuals Open Since 2020.
Gateway Recovery– 50-resident micro-community offering low-barrier beds, recovery services, and support for 18 – 24 months. Annual projected Impact: 50 – 100.
Gateway Young Adult – Housing and support for young adults ages 15-25 experiencing homelessness, tailored to their unique needs. Annual projected Impact: 120 Individuals. On March 25, the city opened the $17 million transitional housing facility for homeless youth

https://www.cabq.gov/health-housing-homelessness/gateway-system-of-care

The Health, Housing and Homelessness Department budget also includes targeted investments, like $500,000 in reallocated funding to support motel vouchers through expanded outreach efforts, providing immediate, flexible shelter options in partnership with Albuquerque Community Safety Department (ACS).

JAEMES SHANLEY GUEST COLUMN ANALYIZING CITY HALL SPENDING UNDER KELLER

Following is a guest opinion column on the City’s budget process submitted by community activist Jaemes Shanley after he attended City Council meetings on the ’27 fiscal year budget. The report is a review of the astonishing spending increases over the last 10 years for basic essential government services with 8 of those fiscal years under Mayor Keller. What is clear is that there is a disproportionate emphasis given to deal with the city’s unhoused with little progress made as the unhoused continue to increase on the streets.

“Probably like me, most residents of Albuquerque would consider it a toss-up whether to delve into the city’s annual budgeting process or have a root canal.

That is unless you have been connected to Albuquerque for a long time (since 1969 in my case) and are frequently out on the streets to see the state of things here. That is what prompted me to download the full 238-page fiscal year 2027 budget document, covering July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, when it was announced in early April.

https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/documents/fy27-proposed-budget-with-weblink-final-4-01-2026.pdf

Perusing it to obtain specific understanding of how Mayor Keller’s administration “remains committed to delivering a safer, cleaner, and more functional city while building long-term capacity in the systems that support our community”, as he describes in his introductory letter to City Council, was not particularly enlightening. It is not a lack of data therein. It is, on the contrary, an abundance of data presented with insufficient context, connection, outcomes and trends that can be observed and confirmed in our community.”

ANNUAL CITY COUNICIL BUDGET PROCESS

The process by which budgets are reviewed, amended, and ultimately approved by City Council involves three meetings of a Committee-Of -The-Whole, consisting of the entire Council membership and chaired this year by District 9 Councilor Renée Grout. In the first two sessions the Committee heard comment from the public about aspects of the budget and engaged with administrators, specialists, and directors within the Mayor’s administration. The third did not permit public comment on the budget but focused on queries directed at the Administration.

All three meetings can be viewed on videos accessible via the CABQ legistar website https://cabq.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

The first of these ran 7 ½ hours, of which 48 minutes was public comment.

The ensuing dialog with city administrative staff provided an object lesson in the seeming disconnect between City Council and the Administration in understanding of the proposed budget. Given Council’s access year-round to supplemental data and explanation from the administration, to which citizen taxpayers are not privileged, and, in spite of that, Council members apparent challenges and frustration getting their heads around the budget, it is no wonder outside observers can feel figuratively stuck in the dark ……… of a forest that keeps understanding in the shade.

What is particularly absent in documents, budget dialog, and the inter Council and Administration sniping is a true long-term perspective on the evolution of our city government over the past decade or longer. The budget is instead presented and discussed as if where we find ourselves today is the inevitable product of an intensely focused, responsible, and pragmatic process and evolution.

I concluded the only way to verify this was to extract budget data for revenue, spending and personnel counts for multiple years from the approved budget documents for each year stretching back to 2007, also available at the city’s website.

So that is what I did.

https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/budget/annual-budget

What emerged was troubling, especially recognizing that Albuquerque is not a dramatically better city today than it was 20 years ago. This fact is evidenced by the number and conditions of unhoused folks living on the streets, empty and abandoned buildings (including iconic 17 story architectural landmarks), vacant lots dispersed city-wide, unleased commercial real estate, and an historic building on Central Avenue downtown collapsing into the street mere days after it was closed by Code Enforcement.

CITY REVENUE SOURCES HIGHLIGHTS

Here are the highlights that stood out to me from aggregating data from city budget documents starting in 2007:

The 2027 budget reflects a $34.9 million reduction from the 2026 budget.

In every year budgets match projected revenue, almost to the penny.

2018 CITY REVENUE SOURCES, DOLLAR AMOUNTS, AND PERCENTAGE CONTRIBUTION WERE:

Gross Receipts Tax: $ 338.2 million (35.3%)
Interfund & Fund Balance & Adj.: $ 157.5 million (16.5%)
Property Tax: $ 154.0 million (16.1%)
Enterprise Proceeds: $ 147.1 million (15.4%)
Intergovernmental: $ 54.3 million (5.7%)
Charges & Permits: $ 48.5 million (5.1%)
Other Taxes: $ 42.0 million (4.4%)
Miscellaneous: $ 14.8 million (1.6%)

TOTAL $ 956.7 million

2027 PROJECTED CITY REVENUE SOURCES, DOLLAR AMOUNTS, AND PERCENTAGE CONTRIBUTION ARE:

Gross Receipts Tax: $ 616.4 million (42.0%)
Interfund & Fund Balance & Adj. $ 238.6 million (16.3%)
Property Tax: $ 200.9 million (13.7%)
Enterprise Proceeds: $ 187.5 million (12.8%)
Charges & Permits: $ 75.2 million (5.1%)
Intergovernmental: $ 73.9 million (5.0%)
Other Taxes: $ 57.0 million (3.9%)
Miscellaneous: $ 16. 3 million (1.1%)

TOTAL $1,466.1 million

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

From 2010 (the final Mayor Martin Chavez administration budget) to 2018 (the final Berry administration budget) total City of Albuquerque spending increased by $52.4 million (6%)

City employee headcount from 2010 to 2018 decreased by only 123 (-2%).

From 2018 to 2027 the proposed City of Albuquerque budget spending increased by $509.4 million or by 53% under Mayor Keller [and during Keller’s eight years in office with a tax increase enacted during his first year in office in 2018.]

There are a total of 27 City Hall Departments. The top 10 departments by spending in 2018 were as follows:

Police Department 18.5% of total budget
City Support Department 10.7% of total budget
Fire Department 8.4% of total budget
Solid Waste Department 7.9% of total budget
Family, Community, Youth, (pre-HHH) 7.3% of total budget
Human Resources Department 6.6% of total budget
Finance/Admin. Department 6.6% of total budget
Aviation Department 6.4% of total budget
Municipal Development 5.6% of total budget
Transit Department 4.8% of total budget

TOP 10 DEPARTMENTS BY PERECENTAGE OF TOTAL BUDGET ALLOCATION IN 2027 ARE:

Police Department: 19.5% of total budget
Fire Department: 9.7% of total budget
City Support Department: 9.6% of total budget
Human Resources Department: 8.3% of total budget
Healthcare, Housing, Homelessness: 6.9% of total budget
Solid Waste Department: 6.1% of total budget
Aviation Department: 5.3% of total budget
Finance/Admin Department: 5.0% of total budget
Arts & Cultural Services Department 3.9% of total budget
Transit Department 3.8% of total budget

Spending on Health, Housing, and Homelessness is smaller as a percentage of budget in 2027 than it was at the end of the Berry administration

THE TOP 10 DEPARTMENTS WITH HIGHEST NET ANNUAL BUDGET DOLLAR INCREASE FROM 2018 TO 2027 ARE:

Police + $108.8 million
City Support / General Services + $89.7 million
Fire + $62.4 million
Human Resources + $58.8 million
Health, Housing, Homelessness + $31.1 million
Community Safety + $21.0 million
Parks & Recreation + $19.8 million
Aviation + $16.3 million
Arts & Culture + $16.1 million
10.Solid Waste + $13.7 million

Departments with highest Combined Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2018 through 2027 ARE:

Civilian Police Oversight: +15.4% CAGR ($2.2 million)
Chief Administrative Office: +14.9% CAGR ($4.2 million)
Office of Inspector General: +12.2% CAGR ($626 thousand)
City Council Services: +11.7% CAGR ($6.6 million)
Office of City Clerk: + 9.1% CAGR ($2.7 million)
Human Resources: + 7.6% CAGR ($58.8 million)
Fire Department: + 6.6% CAGR ($62.4 million)
Technology & Innovation: + 6.6% CAGR ($13.6 million)
Police Department: +5.5% CAGR ($108.8 million)
Parks & Recreation: + 5.0% CAGR ($19.8 million)
Planning Department: +5.0% CAGR ($8.5 million)
Legal Department: +5.0% CAGR ($3 million)

City employee headcount from 2018 to 2027 increased by 961 (16%)

Top 10 departments by personnel count in 2018 were:

Police: 1,513
Fire: 711
Transit: 609
Solid Waste: 468
Municipal Development: 438
Arts & Cultural Services: 352
Parks & Recreation: 294
Aviation: 285
Health Housing Homelessness: 282
Planning: 175

TOTAL: 5,500

The top 10 departments by personnel count in 2027:

Police: 1,895
Fire: 828
Solid Waste: 542
Transit: 488
Arts & Cultural Services: 407
Parks & Recreation: 334
Aviation: 313
Health Housing Homelessness: 311
Municipal Development: 277
General Services: 261

TOTAL: 6,914

SHANLY ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY

While recognizing that we had pandemic impact from 2020 – 2021 and subsequent inflation, it remains challenging to reconcile the fact that the actual City of Albuquerque spending from 2019 through 2026 has been $2.2 BILLION more than it would have been if the annual spending growth had been held to the 0.71% level of 2010 thru 2018.

The most impactful new addition has been the Albuquerque Community Safety Department (ACS) for which the total cost to date has been $81.6 million. The much-touted Gateway System is generally considered to have consumed around $300 million of the $455 million one can extrapolate from the HHH (part of Family & Community Services budget until 2025) but how do we quantify its impact when we still have thousands living unhoused on the street?

One thing is certain. As a city we are spending serious money. Lost in the woods of all this money and ambiguous metrics I find myself wondering if appropriate seriousness is being applied to direct that money toward solving our city’s most pressing problems with urgency.

Referenced data in spreadsheet and PDF printable pages can be found and are publicly available at:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1K1ejyJy4EUTsiW97NXCCXOVzDdr5yJbX?usp=share_link

RESPECTFULLY,

JAEMES SHANLY

THE UNHOUSED NUMBERS IN ALBUQUERQUE

On November 17, 2025 the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness released the most recent 2025 Point-In-Time (PIT) Report for the numbers of unhoused in Albuquerque. The PIT survey found that at least 2,960 people in Albuquerque called the streets or an emergency shelter their home with nowhere else to go. Of that number, 1,367 people were completely unsheltered with no roof over their heads, living on the streets or in emergency shelters. The 2025 PIT report revealed an 8% increase in homelessness going from 2,740 in 2024 to 2,960 in 2025, an increase of 220 people.

A 2025 report by the city found 30% of individuals experiencing homelessness self report having a serious mental illness, 25% self report having a substance use disorder and upwards of 66% experience some form of mental health condition. A report by the New Mexico Justice Reinvestment Working Group found that 65% of individuals who enter the state’s criminal justice system have behavioral health needs and the criminal justice system cannot provide necessary medical treatment and facilities. A major problem is that approximately 75% to 80% of the chronic, emergency unhoused simply refuse city services, yet the city continues spending millions a year to benefit so few that need assistance.

DINELLI ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY

In the last three years, the city has spent upwards of $300 million on homeless shelters, programs and purchasing and remodeling motels for low-income housing. In 2021, the city acquired the Lovelace Hospital complex on Gibson for $15 million and then spent upwards of $90 million to remodel it into the Gateway shelter.

Mayor Keller’s approved FY/26 General Fund budget by the City Council for Health, Housing and Homeless Department (HHH) totals $52.6 million, an increase of $1.4 million, or 2.7% above the FY/25 original budget. The FY/26 approved budget lists 116 separate contracts for services benefiting directly or indirectly to the unhoused totals $53,901,355. The 115 separate contracts totaling $53,901,355 include:

32 for Affordable Housing Contracts totaling $30,391,436
12 for Emergency Shelter contracts totaling $ 6,347,819
16 for Health and Human Services Contracts totaling $ 1,962,486
28 for Homeless Support Services contracts totaling $ 5,746,188
11 for Mental Health Contracts totaling $ 2,995.400
12 for Substance Abuse contracts totaling $ 2,573,526
5 for Gateway Shelter operating contracts totaling $ 3,884,500

116 SERVICE CONTRACTS TOTAL CONTRACTS $ 53,901,355

The link to review the approved FY/26 budget for the HHH department, page 209, is here:

Mayor Tim Keller’s approved FY/27 General Fund budget submitted to the City Council for the Health, Housing and Homeless Department is $48.9 million and it is an increase of 9.5% or $4.3 million above the FY/26 original budget with 98 full time employees. However, listed in the HHH proposed FY/27 budget are 122 separate contracts for services directly or indirectly to the unhoused totaling $85,283,474. The 122 separate service contracts totaling $85,283,47 include:

34 for Affordable Housing Contracts totaling $35,534,228
13 for Emergency Shelter contracts totaling $10,230,537
14 forHealth and Human Services Contracts totaling $ 2,418,638
23 for Homeless Support Services contracts totaling $ 6,091,714
11 for Mental Health Contracts totaling $ 3,925,400
12 for Substance Abuse contracts totaling $ 5,530,478
15 for Gateway Shelter operating contracts totaling $21,552,479

TOTAL CONTRACTS $85,283,471

The link to review the proposed FY/27 budget for the HHH department, page 124, is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/documents/fy27-proposed-budget-with-weblink-final-4-01-2026.pdf

Being unhoused or being destitute are not crimes. Government, be it federal or local, have a moral obligation to help and assist the unhoused, especially those that are mentally ill or who are drug addicted. The city under Mayor Keller has spent upwards of $300 million to help the unhoused over the last 3 years.

The City of Albuquerque is spending upwards of $53 million (approved FY/26 budget) to $85 million (proposed FY/27 budget) a year on homeless services with 116 to 122 service provider contracts including for 5 Gateway Emergency shelters, subsidized housing, food and medical care and drug counseling.

Notwithstanding all the money spent, surveys have revealed that between 75% to 80% of the chronically unhoused refuse or decline city shelter, housing, services and financial help offered or simply say they are not satisfied with what is being offered by the city.

It’s become obvious that Mayor Keller’s programs of shelters and the astonishing funding levels for so few are not working and its an unsustainable black hole. Mayor Keller and the City Council need to find a better approach to the unhoused crisis to get them off the streets.

___________________________________

POSTSCRIPT

On May 18, 2026 the Albuquerque City Council voted to approve the City’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget with the passage of R-26-17, which appropriated $1.5 billion for operating the City Of Albuquerque for Fiscal Year 2027. The link to the related article on adoption of the FY/27 budget is here:

ABQ. City Council Passes Amended $1.47 Billion Budget After Skirmish With Mayor Keller Over $11.8 Million Discrepancy; Council Enacts One Year Objectives Resolution; Mayor Approves Budget Without Signing And No Line Item Vetos

Albuquerque’s record $1.5 billion budget heads to the state, without Keller’s signature

Jaemes Shanley Guest Column: Lost In The Woods – Adventures With The City Of Albuquerque Budget; Dinelli POSTSCRIPT: The City’s Unhoused And Its Financial Commitment To Them

Posted on June 10, 2026 by Pete Dinelli

On May 18, 2026 the Albuquerque City Council voted to approve the City’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget with the passage of a City Council Resolution which appropriated $1.5 billion for operating the City Of Albuquerque for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2026 and ends on June 30, 2027. There are 27 City Departments. Each budget is reviewed by the council by what is called the Committee of the Whole (COW) made up of all city councilors. The city budget is what is called a performance-based budget. Throughout the year, city departments are tasked with compiling statistics and information on the departments to justify budgets and increases or decreases in personnel levels.

Following is a guest opinion column on the City’s budget process submitted by community activist Jaemes Shanley after he attended City Council hearings on the ’27 fiscal year budget. The report is a review of the astonishing spending increases over the last 10 years for basic essential government services. What is clear from review of city budgets is that there is a disproportionate emphasis given to deal with the city’s unhoused with little progress made as the unhoused continue to increase on the streets. The postscript below addresses the unhoused numbers in the city, the dedicated shelters and the city’s financial commitment to the unhoused for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027 for comparison and to place the spending in context.

Mr. Shanley is the President of the Mark Twain Neighborhood Association located in the mid-heights and he is the Vice President of the District 7 Coalition of Neighborhoods which boasts membership of 14 neighborhood associations. Mr. Shanley requested publication of his guest column on www.PeteDinelli.com. As has been the case with past guest columns submitted and published by him, he was not compensated for it. The Shanly column is being published “free of charge” as a public service to the public.

LOST IN THE WOODS – ADVENTURES WITH THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE BUDGET

BY: Jaemes Shanley

Could it be we are not able to see the forest for the trees?

Probably like me, most residents of Albuquerque would consider it a toss-up whether to delve into the city’s annual budgeting process or have a root canal.

https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/documents/fy27-proposed-budget-with-weblink-final-4-01-2026.pdf

Perusing it to obtain specific understanding of how Mayor Keller’s administration “remains committed to delivering a safer, cleaner, and more functional city while building long-term capacity in the systems that support our community”, as he describes in his introductory letter to City Council, was not particularly enlightening. It is not a lack of data therein. It is, on the contrary, an abundance of data presented with insufficient context, connection, outcomes and trends that can be observed and confirmed in our community.

ANNUAL CITY COUNICIL BUDGET PROCESS

The process by which budgets are reviewed, amended, and ultimately approved by City Council involves three meetings of a Committee-Of -The-Whole, consisting of the entire Council membership and chaired this year by District 9 Councilor Renée Grout. In the first two sessions the Committee heard comment from the public about aspects of the budget and engaged with administrators, specialists, and directors within the Mayor’s administration. The third did not permit public comment on the budget but focused on queries directed at the Administration.

All three meetings can be viewed on videos accessible via the CABQ legistar website https://cabq.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

The first of these ran 7 ½ hours, of which 48 minutes was public comment.

The ensuing dialog with city administrative staff provided an object lesson in the seeming disconnect between City Council and the Administration in understanding of the proposed budget. Given Council’s access year-round to supplemental data and explanation from the administration, to which citizen taxpayers are not privileged, and, in spite of that, Council members apparent challenges and frustration getting their heads around the budget, it is no wonder outside observers can feel figuratively stuck in the dark … of a forest that keeps understanding in the shade.

So that is what I did.

https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/budget/annual-budget

HIGHLIGHTS OF CITY REVENUE SOURCES

Here are the highlights that stood out to me from aggregating data from city budget documents starting in 2007:

The 2027 budget reflects a $34.9 million reduction from the 2026 budget.

In every year budgets match projected revenue, almost to the penny.

2018 CITY REVENUE SOURCES, DOLLAR AMOUNTS, AND PERCENTAGE CONTRIBUTION WERE:

Gross Receipts Tax: $ 338.2 million (35.3%)
Interfund & Fund Balance & Adj.: $ 157.5 million (16.5%)
Property Tax: $ 154.0 million (16.1%)
Enterprise Proceeds: $ 147.1 million (15.4%)
Intergovernmental: $ 54.3 million (5.7%)
Charges & Permits: $ 48.5 million (5.1%)
Other Taxes: $ 42.0 million (4.4%)
Miscellaneous: $ 14.8 million (1.6%)

TOTAL $ 956.7 million

2027 PROJECTED CITY REVENUE SOURCES, DOLLAR AMOUNTS, AND PERCENTAGE CONTRIBUTION ARE:

Gross Receipts Tax: $ 616.4 million (42.0%)
Interfund & Fund Balance & Adj. $ 238.6 million (16.3%)
Property Tax: $ 200.9 million (13.7%)
Enterprise Proceeds: $ 187.5 million (12.8%)
Charges & Permits: $ 75.2 million (5.1%)
Intergovernmental: $ 73.9 million (5.0%)
Other Taxes: $ 57.0 million (3.9%)
Miscellaneous: $ 16. 3 million (1.1%)

TOTAL $1,466.1 million

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

From 2010 (the final Mayor Martin Chavez administration budget) to 2018 (the final Berry administration budget) total City of Albuquerque spending increased by $52.4 million (6%)

City employee headcount from 2010 to 2018 decreased by only 123 (-2%).

From 2018 to 2027 the proposed City of Albuquerque budget spending increased by $509.4 million (53%) with all the increases administered by Mayor Keller.

There are a total of 27 City Hall Departments. The top 10 departments by spending in 2018 were as follows:

Police Department 18.5% of total budget
City Support Department 10.7% of total budget
Fire Department 8.4% of total budget
Solid Waste Department 7.9% of total budget
Family, Community, Youth, (pre-HHH) 7.3% of total budget
Human Resources Department 6.6% of total budget
Finance/Admin. Department 6.6% of total budget
Aviation Department 6.4% of total budget
Municipal Development 5.6% of total budget
Transit Department 4.8% of total budget

TOP 10 DEPARTMENTS BY PERECENTAGE OF TOTAL BUDGET ALLOCATION IN 2027 ARE:

Police Department: 19.5% of total budget
Fire Department: 9.7% of total budget
City Support Department: 9.6% of total budget
Human Resources Department: 8.3% of total budget
Healthcare, Housing, Homelessness: 6.9% of total budget
Solid Waste Department: 6.1% of total budget
Aviation Department: 5.3% of total budget
Finance/Admin Department: 5.0% of total budget
Arts & Cultural Services Department 3.9% of total budget
Transit Department 3.8% of total budget

Spending on Health, Housing, and Homelessness is smaller as a percentage of budget in 2027 than it was at the end of the Berry administration

THE TOP 10 DEPARTMENTS WITH HIGHEST NET ANNUAL BUDGET DOLLAR INCREASE FROM 2018 TO 2027 ARE:

Police + $108.8 million
City Support / General Services + $89.7 million
Fire + $62.4 million
Human Resources + $58.8 million
Health, Housing, Homelessness + $31.1 million
Community Safety + $21.0 million
Parks & Recreation + $19.8 million
Aviation + $16.3 million
Arts & Culture + $16.1 million
10.Solid Waste + $13.7 million

Departments with highest Combined Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2018 through 2027 ARE:

Civilian Police Oversight: +15.4% CAGR ($2.2 million)
Chief Administrative Office: +14.9% CAGR ($4.2 million)
Office of Inspector General: +12.2% CAGR ($626 thousand)
City Council Services: +11.7% CAGR ($6.6 million)
Office of City Clerk: + 9.1% CAGR ($2.7 million)
Human Resources: + 7.6% CAGR ($58.8 million)
Fire Department: + 6.6% CAGR ($62.4 million)
Technology & Innovation: + 6.6% CAGR ($13.6 million)
Police Department: +5.5% CAGR ($108.8 million)
Parks & Recreation: +5.0% CAGR ($19.8 million)
Planning Department: +5.0% CAGR ($8.5 million)
Legal Department: +5.0% CAGR ($3 million)

City employee headcount from 2018 to 2027 increased by 961 (16%)

Top 10 departments by personnel count in 2018 were:

Police: 1,513
Fire: 711
Transit: 609
Solid Waste: 468
Municipal Development: 438
Arts & Cultural Services: 352
Parks & Recreation: 294
Aviation: 285
Health Housing Homelessness: 282
Planning: 175

TOTAL: 5,500

The top 10 departments by personnel count in 2027:

Police: 1,895
Fire: 828
Solid Waste: 542
Transit: 488
Arts & Cultural Services: 407
Parks & Recreation: 334
Aviation: 313
Health Housing Homelessness: 311
Municipal Development: 277
General Services: 261

TOTAL: 6,914

ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY

The most impactful new addition has been the Albuquerque Community Safety Department (ACS) [which primarily deals with the unhoused population] for which the total cost to date has been $81.6 million. The much-touted Gateway System is generally considered to have consumed around $300 million of the $455 million one can extrapolate from the HHH (part of Family & Community Services budget until 2025) but how do we quantify its impact when we still have thousands living unhoused on the street?

Referenced data in spreadsheet and PDF printable pages can be found and are publicly available at:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1K1ejyJy4EUTsiW97NXCCXOVzDdr5yJbX?usp=share_link

RESPECTFULLY,

JAEMES SHANLEY

________________________________________

EDITOR’S POSTSCRIPT

THE UNHOUSED NUMBERS IN ALBUQUERQUE

A 2025 report by the city found 30% of individuals experiencing homelessness self report having a serious mental illness, 25% self report having a substance use disorder and upwards of 66% experience some form of mental health condition. A report by the New Mexico Justice Reinvestment Working Group found that 65% of individuals who enter the state’s criminal justice system have behavioral health needs and the criminal justice system cannot provide necessary medical treatment and facilities. A glaring problem is that approximately 75% to 80% of the chronic, emergency unhoused simply refuse city services, yet the city continues spending millions a year to benefit so few that need assistance.

ALBUQUERQUE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT (ACS)

The Albuquerque Community Safety Department (ACS) is at the forefront of dealing with the city’s unhoused. The ACS was given a 10.5% budget increase to $19.8 million for the 2027 fiscal year, including $261,000 for employee raises. The budget increase is intended to increase field response and street outreach. ACS personnel have backgrounds as social workers, clinicians and counselors and respond to 911 calls reporting people suffering from addiction, homelessness and mental health emergencies. The approved budget funds 156 full-time positions, up from 142 currently. The ACS department will have a $2 million investment to expand field response and double the size of its Street Outreach Team, freeing up APD officers and strengthening the City’s ability to respond to behavioral health calls and homelessness with specialized, civilian-led interventions. $500,000 will be reallocated for motel vouchers.

THE GATEWAY SYSTEM OF SHELTERS

The Gateway Shelter Network the City of Albuquerque operates consists of 5 shelters costing a staggering $300 Million dollars spent over the last 4 years to assist between 3,000 to 5,000 unhoused people. The City has become New Mexico’s de facto “homeless capitol” providing shelter and services to the homeless for all communities throughout New Mexico. The problem is that the City and the State’s unhoused numbers are getting worse and not any better after spending so many millions.

The Gateway Network of support for people struggling with homelessness and drug and substance addiction consists of the following:

Gateway Center– (Located on Gibson.) Campus providing medical, behavioral, and social services including overnight beds, first responder intake, medical sobering and respite. Old Lovelace Hospital city purchased for $15 million costing $95 million to remodel into shelter and supposedly providing assistance to upwards of 1,000 unhoused per month.
Gateway West – Safe, supportive 660-bed facility for individuals experiencing homelessness, offering specialized resources and case management. (Annual Impact: 5,700 Individuals. Open 24/7 Since 2019)
Gateway Family – Supportive housing center for families with overnight beds, meals, and case management to help achieve stable housing. (Annual Impact: 987 Individuals Open Since 2020.
Gateway Recovery– 50-resident micro-community offering low-barrier beds, recovery services, and support for 18 – 24 months. Annual projected Impact: 50 – 100. Opening Early 2025
Gateway Young Adult – Housing and support for young adults ages 15-25 experiencing homelessness, tailored to their unique needs. Annual projected Impact: 120 Individuals. Opened March, 2026.

CITY’S FINANCIAL COMITMENT TO UNHOUSED

32 for Affordable Housing Contracts totaling $30,391,436
12 for Emergency Shelter contracts totaling $ 6,347,819
16 for Health and Human Services Contracts totaling $ 1,962,486
28 for Homeless Support Services contracts totaling $ 5,746,188
11 for Mental Health Contracts totaling $ 2,995,400
12 for Substance Abuse contracts totaling $ 2,573,526
5 for Gateway Shelter operating contracts totaling $ 3,884,500

116 SERVICE CONTRACTS TOTAL CONTRACTS $ 53,901,355

The link to review the approved FY/26 budget for the HHH department, page 209, is here:

Click to access fy26-approved-final.pdf

34 for Affordable Housing Contracts totaling $35,534,228
13 for Emergency Shelter contracts totaling $10,230,537
14 forHealth and Human Services Contracts totaling $2,418,638
23 for Homeless Support Services contracts totaling $6,091,714
11 for Mental Health Contracts totaling $3,925,400
12 for Substance Abuse contracts totaling $5,530,478
15 for Gateway Shelter operating contracts totaling $21,552,479

122 SERVICE CONTRACTS TOTAL CONTRACTS $85,283,471

The link to review the proposed FY/27 budget for the HHH department, page 124, is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/documents/fy27-proposed-budget-with-weblink-final-4-01-2026.pdf

On May 18, 2026 the Albuquerque City Council voted to approve the City’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget with the passage of R-26-17, which appropriated $1.5 billion for operating the City Of Albuquerque for Fiscal Year 2027. The link to the related article on adoption of the FY/27 budget is here:

ABQ. City Council Passes Amended $1.47 Billion Budget After Skirmish With Mayor Keller Over $11.8 Million Discrepancy; Council Enacts One Year Objectives Resolution; Mayor Should Sign Off Approved Budget Without Any Line Item Vetos

ABQ. City Council Passes Amended $1.47 Billion Budget After Skirmish With Mayor Keller Over $11.8 Million Discrepancy; Council Enacts One Year Objectives Resolution; Mayor Approves Budget Without Signing And No Line Item Vetos

Posted on June 8, 2026 by Pete Dinelli

On May 18, 2026 the Albuquerque City Council voted to approve the City’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget with the passage of R-26-17, which appropriates $1.5 billion for operating the City Of Albuquerque for Fiscal Year 2027, and R-26-28, which set the One Year Objectives for the City of Albuquerque for Fiscal Year 2027.

https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/documents/fy27-proposed-budget-with-weblink-final-4-01-2026.pdf

(EDITOR’S NOTE: A slight delay occurred with the publication of this article because of reporting on the 2026 Primary election.)

The city council approved its amended version of the $1.47 billion budget on a 7-2 vote. Voting YES to approve the 2027 city budget were Democrat City Councilors Klarissa J. Peña, Joaquín Baca, Tammy Feibelkorn, Nichole Rogers, Stephanie Telles and Republicans Dan Champine and Renee Grout. Voting NO were Republican City Councilors Dan Lewis and Brook Bassan. The City Council worked through multiple amendments to the budget during a lengthy meeting before adopting it.

OVERVIEW OF ENACTED 2027 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET (R-26-17)

There are 27 City Departments and each budget is reviewed by the council by what is called the committee of the whole made up of all city councilors. The city budget is what is called a performance based budget. Through out the year, city departments are tasked with compiling statistics and information on the departments to justify budgets and increases or decreases in personnel levels.

The City Council signed off on $882 million in general fund appropriations for the fiscal year that begins on July 1 and ends June 31. The general fund is primarily funded by gross receipts tax dollars and it covers basic city services such as the police and fire departments and park maintenance.

The approved 2027 general fund budget is around $23 million, or 2.6%, more than fiscal year 2026 and it is about $7 million more than in Mayor Keller’s originally proposed 2027 budget. The approved total budget, which came in lower than the $1.5 billion 2026 budget, marked the first year the city’s budget has declined since 2024.

In Keller’s proposed budget, city operating funds decreased by $35 million because of inflation, higher healthcare costs and federal funding cuts. To make those cuts, Keller’s proposed budget eliminated or deactivated 247 positions, many of which were restored by councilors in their budget substitute. Councilors also restored some funding to several departments, like transit, animal welfare and parks and recreation, that saw decreases in Keller’s proposed budget.

The City Council left the largest department budgets untouched such as the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) and Fire and Rescue (AFRD). APD makes up 32% of the general fund appropriations and the city council approved a 2% increase in its budget. AFRD makes up 16% of the general fund appropriations and the council approved a 4% increase in its budget.

Mayor Tim Keller originally proposed cutting close to $35 million from the proposed new city budget, eliminating roughly 250 city worker positions and increasing some city fees. The spending plan sparked arguments, including over the budget for the Animal Welfare Department. Debate occurred over funding for the city’s “Vision Zero” to improve pedestrian and traffic safety.

The Committee Substitute Budget Resolution (R-26-17), sponsored by Budget Chair Councilor Renee Grout, passed by the council restores or increases funding in several operational areas. Those areas include Code Enforcement staffing, Animal Welfare field services, Open Space staffing, transit operators and mechanics, Senior Affairs staffing support at the Conway Wood Multigenerational Center, park maintenance funding, cybersecurity investments, and increased funding for the Office of Inspector General. The approved budget includes recurring funding for BioPark Zoo animal food, and long-needed Library IT operational support. It includes operational support for Transit Department services.

Councilors said the final budget prioritizes the city’s five year goals. The adopted budget outlines funding priorities across several areas, including public safety, infrastructure, transit services, community development, environmental protection, human and family services and city workforce support.

City leaders said the budget maintains investments in essential services while addressing workforce needs and operational demands in a difficult financial environment. Funding was also directed toward improving permitting and development processes and preserving long-term infrastructure priorities. City leaders say the plan is intended to maintain current services while supporting long-term goals for Albuquerque. City staff will monitor progress on those goals throughout the fiscal year and provide updates to the council.

During the budget review process, Councilors identified concerns regarding the presentation and treatment of projected available fund balance amounts within the General Fund. The Committee Substitute preserves fiscal flexibility through reserve mechanisms tied to year-end expenditure performance and audited financial results.

The adopted amended budget maintains the Council’s focus on improving permitting and development processes, supporting essential City services, and maintaining long-term infrastructure investment priorities.

PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS AN THE UNHOUSED

Under the city council’s approved fiscal year ‘27 budget, public safety and increased services to the unhoused remain the City’s top priorities in the approved budget. The approved budget directs more resources to frontline response in the 3 public safety departments as follows:

ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT (APD)

The proposed APD budget was increased by 2% in the 2027 fiscal year to about $278.2 million and comprise nearly 32% of the city’s general fund appropriations. The APD budget calls for $3.8 million to support staff raises, subject to police union negotiations. APD cut eight command staff and 52 civilian positions for a total savings of $5.9 million and doubled the number of funded positions for police service aides from 50 to 100. The budget calls for 1,100 sworn officer positions. In November, APD had 901 sworn officers.

APD resources are being shifted from administrative command structures into field operations. The department identified redundant or non-critical positions and reduced command staff by 8 positions generating savings that have been reinvested to fund 100 Police Service Aides, allowing sworn officers to focus on core law enforcement duties. APD also continues recruitment and retention efforts toward a goal of 1,100 sworn officer positions and is transitioning 43 existing sworn personnel into field operations.

ALBUQUERQUE FIRE RESCUE (AFR)

The Albuquerque Fire Rescue approved budget includes $4.4 million for a negotiated wage increase for firefighters. Overtime appropriations were increased by $409,000. AFR staffing is expected to remain essentially unchanged at 828 full-time positions. The AFR proposed FY27 budget will prioritize field response by realigning staffing and reducing reliance on overtime, including integrating support personnel into regular field operations to strengthen coverage city-wide while containing costs. AFR will also see its highest pay increases in city history.

ALBUQUERQUE COMMUNITY SAFETY (ACS)

HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

The Gateway System of support for people struggling with homelessness and drug and substance addiction consists of the following:

Gateway Center– (Located on Gibson.) Campus providing medical, behavioral, and social services including overnight beds, first responder intake, medical sobering and respite. Old Lovelace Hospital city purchased for $15 million costing $95 million to remodel into shelter and supposedly providing assistance to upwards of 1,000 unhoused per month.
Gateway West – Safe, supportive 660-bed facility for individuals experiencing homelessness, offering specialized resources and case management. (Annual Impact: 5,700 Individuals. Open 24/7 Since 2019)
Gateway Family – Supportive housing center for families with overnight beds, meals, and case management to help achieve stable housing. (Annual Impact: 987 Individuals Open Since 2020.
Gateway Recovery– 50-resident micro-community offering low-barrier beds, recovery services, and support for 18 – 24 months. Annual projected Impact: 50 – 100.
Gateway Young Adult – Housing and support for young adults ages 15-25 experiencing homelessness, tailored to their unique needs. Annual projected Impact: 120 Individuals. On March 25, the city opened the $17 million transitional housing facility for homeless youth

https://www.cabq.gov/health-housing-homelessness/gateway-system-of-care

NEW DIVERSION INITIATIVE

The City Council cut Mayor Keller’s new diversion initiative for the unhoused in half from $400,000 to $200,000. The new program will be led by the City Attorney’s Office and designed to address the cycle of low-level, non-violent offenses that often result in brief and ineffective periods of detention without treatment or long-term resolution. Under this diversion program, eligible individuals will be assessed by a social worker or case manager at the point of prosecution and offered structured diversion options, including shelter intake, case management, substance use or mental health treatment, or other supportive services.

This approach shifts the City’s response from a system that cycles individuals through arrest and release to one that uses legal intervention as a pathway into services, while maintaining accountability for participation. By aligning enforcement with treatment and housing resources, the program is designed to reduce recidivism, decrease strain on the courts and detention system, and improve outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness and behavioral health challenges.

COUNCIL’S INCREASED BUDGET AMENDMENTS

City Council discussions and debate focused on balancing proposed spending budget amendments and adjustments while keeping essential departments and programs fully funded. Throughout the May 18 City council meeting, city councilors tried to create balance between proposed budget cuts and ensuring departments and programs are funded properly.

The City Council passed more than a dozen amendments, including one clarifying voucher cuts and others funding priorities in their districts and addressing public concerns. The City Council’s substitute budget was passed with $1.5 million in funding cuts to housing vouchers, one of the larger changes to Keller’s proposed budget.

An amendment sponsored by Grout, Fiebelkorn and Joaquín Baca restored $200,000 of the requested $400,000 to a diversion program tailored to the unhoused who are facing criminal charges and to provide them alternative services to jailing.

An amendment addressed concerns over voucher cuts, clarifying that 2026 vouchers were not fully expended and if they run out mid-year “will be prioritized by the Council.”

Another amendment removed council funding cuts to “Vision Zero”, allowing for millions to be made available for a list of projects like pedestrian crossing signals and a road diet on Lomas Boulevard, among others.

CLASH OVER $11.8 MILLION DISCREPANCY

The approval of the operating budget occurred days after the City Council and the Keller administration clashed over an identified $11.8 million discrepancy in Mayor Tim Keller’s initial budget proposal. $11.8 million discrepancy was discovered by council in the city’s financial projections while reviewing the mayor’s proposed $1.4 billion fiscal year 2027 budget. The identified discrepancy changed the budget math and it allowed the council to restore 272 city positions that Mayor Keller’s propose budget had deactivated while increasing reserves. During a heated Committee of the Whole meeting, the executive and legislative branches clashed over whether this newfound cash actually exists.

The majority of the disputed $11.8 million, which makes up 1% of the general fund appropriations, was put toward city employee raises, with $4.5 million for a 1% cost-of-living increase and $3.7 million toward compensation adjustments. The leftover $3.6 million was used for other priorities, including traffic safety projects.

The clash occurred after the introduction of Councilor Renée Grout’s substitute budget resolution, which councilors unanimously approved with amendments. Council staff said they found an $11.8 million ending balance from FY2026 that was not carried into the proposed FY27 starting fund balance. Grout said her staff consulted the Local Government Division of the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), which advised that treating the projected savings as available revenue for the next fiscal year was a “reasonable” approach. Grout told the on line news agency City Desk that finding the funding helped the council preserve core services, remove proposed surcharges for stormwater, solid waste and the BioPark and fund compensation study recommendations aimed at raising full-time employee pay to the 25th percentile. She said councilors did not want to raise fees, as families continue to face higher costs, and argued that the mayor’s proposed fee increases were not backed by council legislation.

The administration pushed back against what it labeled “high-risk” amendments, warning of dire consequences. Chief Financial Officer Carla Martinez challenged the council’s claims of state support, noting a DFA deputy director was unaware of any such conversations. In a press release, the administration stated the council’s “outdated data” would endanger key city programs. Martinez warned the $11.8 million “unrealized amount” could trigger layoffs and bond rating damage. The meeting turned personal as Councilor Dan Lewis accused Martinez of calling budget staff liars; Martinez told Lewis, “Please don’t put words in my mouth,” and said she was simply asking who council staff had spoken with at DFA and for written proof of their claims.

ENACTMENT OF CITY’S ONE YEAR OBJECTIVES ( R-26-28)

In addition to passage of the City’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget through the passage of R-26-17, the City Council passed Resolution R-26-28, which establishes the City’s one-year objectives. The resolution R-26-28 sets the one-year objectives for the City of Albuquerque and is mandated by the City Charter and Budget Ordinance, requiring the Council to annually review and adopt the objectives, which are aligned with the City’s broader five-year goals.

Mandated by the City Charter, these objectives ensure that taxpayer dollars are tied to tangible outcomes across eight primary five-year goals:

Human and Family Development
Public Safety
Public Infrastructure
Sustainable Community Development
Environmental Protection
Economic Vitality
Community and Cultural Engagement
Governmental Excellence and Effectiveness

City Councilor Renee Grout explained the significance of the passage of both R-26-28 and R-26-17 this way:

“These objectives provide clear direction for the Administration and allow the City Council to effectively monitor progress throughout the fiscal year. … They ensure that our budgetary allocations are directly tied to achieving tangible outcomes for our City and our neighbors. … Councilors can now effectively monitor progress throughout the fiscal year. .., They ensure that our budgetary allocations are directly tied to achieving tangible outcomes for our City and our neighbors. …”

City Council staff will actively monitor and report on the progress of these objectives throughout F/Y27. Furthermore, the resolution requires the Administration to provide a report on the accomplishments and challenges related to the F/Y 2026 objectives within 90 days, reinforcing the City Council’s commitment to accountability and continuous improvement.

CITY COUNCILORS AND MAYOR REACT TO BUDGET PASSAGE

District 9 City Councilor Renée Grout, the Chair of the City Council’s Committee of the Whole (COW), emphasized the significance of the enactment of both City’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget through the passage of R-26-17 City Council passage of Resolution R-26-28 establishing the City’s one-year objectives. Grout said this:

“[This budget] was an historic ninth budget from this administration. I don’t know if there’s ever been a budget with this many discrepancies and outright omissions. … The most important thing is having a structural, accurate, and balanced budget that’s transparent and meets the needs of our citizens. The passage of the City’s largest-ever budget and the adoption of the City’s one-year objectives move our City forward.”

“We’ve Prioritized public safety, including increasing funds to Animal Welfare and Code Enforcement Departments, protected the City’s lowest paid employees by bringing their compensation up to the 25^th percentile based on the Evergreen study, and provides a 1% across the board increase for a total of 3% for our front-line workers. The allocation of funds to these key departments, alongside the adoption of our FY 2027 objectives, aligns our budgetary priorities and our strategic goals for the City.”

“The Council’s goal was to produce a more structurally sustainable budget that balances workforce needs, operational realities, and fiscal reserves in an increasingly constrained revenue environment “This is a working budget that reflects extensive review, significant discussion, and the Council’s responsibility to ensure long-term financial stability for the City.”

Democrat Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn, who voted to approve the budget, said she saw the process as a “give and take” and she was happy the council could restore funding for transit, open space and animal welfare, the last of which saved six positions and covered the stray cat trap and neuter program. Feiblekorn said this:

“I didn’t get everything I wanted, but neither did anyone else, and I think that’s to be expected when there are nine councilors and a mayor vying for resources. This year, we had very limited resources, so I think the juggling of priorities was harder this year than in past years. … [I am] continually dismayed by the amount put into the larger departments while others faced cuts. … We are always willing to cut transit, we are always willing to cut parks and recreation and open space. … These are also really important departments in our city, but we continue to just put more and more and more money into APD, and I just wonder at what point we’re going to stop doing that.”

Mayor Tim Keller for his part said changes made during the council’s budget process helped preserve several critical programs and investments but added he remains “deeply concerned” that this budget may not be balanced. Keller said the council’s amendments fixed “some major issues” in its original plan, including restoring funding the council had initially removed from traffic safety projects and halfway funding a diversion program to address those unhoused who are facing criminal charges and jail for city code violations.

Keller said this in a statement following the City’s Council vote:

“The amendments tonight did a lot to save this budget and the critical investments it represents. In the short term, we saved the diversion program for the unhoused, protected investments in pedestrian safety, and took a real step toward frontline worker pay. But I remain deeply concerned that this budget may not be balanced. It’s built on shaky ground with uncertain forecasts and high-risk assumptions that may require major revisions, even cuts by early fall. We have to work together on long-term structural stability so we can protect core services, support our workers, and keep Albuquerque moving forward.”

Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis, who voted NO on the budget adoption, said in a statement after the vote that he supported the amendments that gave raises to city employees and eliminated proposed fee increases, like a fee Keller had proposed for providing stormwater services. However, Lewis said this:

“I could not support the final budget because it will only increase projected deficits in future years. This budget is filled with extravagant spending on the mayor’s pet projects and programs that have shown no measurable results in addressing the city’s crime, homelessness, and economic challenges.”

Mayor Keller must now sign off the enacted budget. Keller has line item veto power, which means he can still take things out of the budget before he signs it into law.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The single most important function of the Albuquerque City Council is enactment each fiscal year of the annual city operating budget that commences July 1 and ends June 30 each year.

The City Council budget process is one of the very few times that city council can bore deep down into each of the city department budgets. All too often, Mayor’s and their political operatives view the City Council more of an annoyance as opposed to being a legitimate oversight function.

All to often, it becomes a process of members of the City Council asking the Mayor and his top executives the main question “What is it in this budget do you not want us to know about?” or to put it in a more crass way “What is it that you are hiding in this budget or lying about?”

For the previous 8 years, and throughout Mayor Tim Keller’s two terms, the city council has essentially acted as a rubber stamp giving Keller essentially all he wanted, even a tax increase the first year as he was Mayor in 2017. Keller’s concern that the enacted budget “may not be balanced” is laughable. By law the budget is required to be a balanced budget with no deficit spending based on projected revenues and the city council retains all control over city finances and can amend, adjust or reduce expenditures any time they want and as the need demands.

This year, the city council exercised sound financial judgment with their enactment of the 2027 budget. Simply put, the City Council did their job.

On June 9, it was reported that Mayor Tim Keller allowed the 10-day signing deadline for the enacted budget to pass without any line item vetos. The budget become law without his signature and employee raises will move forward. Under city charter rules, the budget automatically took effect once that deadline expired. But Keller made sure to distance himself from the Council’s math, stating, “The budget will become law, though I remain concerned about the Council’s decision to build it around an overly-optimistic forecast that could put core services at risk.”

Albuquerque’s record $1.5 billion budget heads to the state, without Keller’s signature

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-city-council-approves-budget-2027/71347521

https://www.newsradiokkob.com/2026/05/19/albuquerque-city-council-approves-1-5b-budget-for-fiscal-year-2027/

https://www.kob.com/news/top-news/city-council-approves-1-5b-budget-for-albuquerque/

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/albuquerque-city-councilors-approve-fiscal-year-2027-budget/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/city-council-passes-147-billion-budget-after-juggling-priorities/3046203

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/keller-proposes-147-billion-city-budget-for-2027/3015664

https://www.cabq.gov/council/find-your-councilor/district-9/news/city-council-amends-and-approves-citys-fy27-budget-workforce-investment-fiscal-stability-and-long-term-sustainability-remain-focus

https://abq.news/2026/05/clash-of-the-budgets/

Bernalillo County Election Results for County Sherriff, County Assessor, District 5 County Commission and Probate Judge; Only Contested County Race Remaining For November 3 General Election Is Dist. 5 County Commission Seat; Congratulations And Best Wishes To Victors!

Posted on June 4, 2026 by Pete Dinelli

On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, the New Mexico primary election took place. This was the first semi-open primary in New Mexico history where independent voters could choose either the Democratic or Republican primary to vote in without having to register with that party.

Below are the Bernalillo County primary election results for the offices of Bernalillo County Sherriff, Bernalillo County Assessor, Bernalillo County Commission, District 5 and Probate Judge.

BERNALILLO COUNTY SHERRIFF JOHN ALLEN ELECTED TO SECOND FOUR YEAR TERM

There were only two candidates running in the Democratic primary for Bernalillo County Sherriff and no Republican ran for the office. Therefor the top vote getter in the Democratic Primary was elected Sherriff and will be sworn in on January 1, 2027. The two Democratic candidates were Incumbent Sheriff John Allen and former Quay County Sheriff Philip Snedeker, whom Allen defeated four years ago in a previous race. Sherriff Allen prevailed over former Quay County Snedeker and won his election to a second four year term. The vote was as follows:

John Allen: 70.22% (48,507 votes)
Phil Snedeker: 29.78% (20,576 votes)

Sherriff Allen declared victory and said this:

“Thank you to the voters for choosing me again. … We’re going to continue to fight crime. BCSO is proactive, and we’ll be even more proactive as we move forward in my second term.”

In 2023, Sherriff Allen previously defeated Snedeker and five other challengers in the Democratic primary, winning 41% of the vote before becoming the first Black sheriff of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Allen will continue overseeing a department of approximately 300 deputies in New Mexico’s largest sheriff’s office. Allen said he hopes to keep the agency staffed at 96% or higher.

During his campaign, Allen emphasized expanding the use of technology to improve response times and data collection. He said the goal is to provide deputies with more tools to address higher-priority calls, making response times his top priority. Allen also said he is working to expand behavioral health and addiction services to better serve both incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county.

Sherriff Allen said he also plans to become more involved in addressing homelessness while maintaining a balance between compassion and accountability. He said homelessness has expanded into unincorporated areas of the county.

As Allen begins another four-year term leading BCSO, he said his overarching goal is to make the department even more proactive, both internally and in its efforts to combat crime throughout Bernalillo County. One way Allen hopes to increase proactive policing is by assigning more deputies to crime hotspots. He identified areas on Albuquerque’s West Side near Gibson Boulevard and 98th Street, as well as the International District, as locations where crime occurs more frequently.

The links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://results.bernco.gov/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/bernalillo-county-sheriff-john-allen-wins-democratic-primary/3050132

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-statewide-office-election-results-primary-2026/71284570

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-primary-election-results-june-2026/71272976

BERNALILLO COUNTY ASSESSOR

There were only two candidates running in the Democratic primary for County Assessor and no Republican ran for the office. The winner of the Democratic Primary will be sworn in as County Assessor. Democrat Incumbent Damion Lara and Deputy County Treasurer and former two term County Clerk Linda Stover were the two Democrats. Following are the results of the primary election:

Damian Lara: 47.88% (35,403)
Linda Stover: 52.12% (35,543 votes)

Linda Stover will be sworn in as the new county Assessor on January 1, 2027 as Lara completes serving his term until then. Stover said this about being elected as the new County Assessor:

“I’m looking forward to the new beginnings in the county assessor’s office and being able to actually work for the public and for the residents in Bernalillo County. …. There’s a lot that needs to be looked at and things to be done.”

Incumbent Damon Lara is an attorney and was elected assessor in 2022. He ran on his work helping lower the tax rate, called a mill rate, for the largest bracket of residential properties and making progress in economic development in Albuquerque. Lara said this about his loss:

“I know that a lot of people who weren’t used to paying their fair share were very upset, but I know that I did the right thing.”

BERNALILLO COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 5

There are a total of five elected Bernalillo County Commissioners who serve staggered terms. They are elected to four year terms with only two consecutive terms allowed. In 2026, the County Commissioners for District 1 and District 5 were on the ballot.

Democrat County Commissioner Barb Baca ran unopposed and therefor she was elected to a second four year term and will be sworn in on January 1, 2027.

There were two Democrats and two Republicans running in the primary for Bernalillo County Commission District 5. The top Democrat and top Republican vote getters will face off each other in the November 4 general election.

Incumbent Bernalillo County Commissioner Eric Olivas secured a solid lead over Byron Powdrell in the Democratic primary for the District 5 County Commission seat. Olivas secured 55.54% (8,453 votes) to Powdrell’s 44.46% (6,791votes).

During the primary, Olivas said he would expand the sheriff’s office’s metro team to increase public safety, update behavioral health services and address infrastructure issues in the East Mountains. Olivas said this about his win:

“My team has the unofficial results from around the city, so we’re thrilled. I’m very grateful to the voters for allowing me the opportunity to keep serving,” he said, adding that he looked forward to a “spirited, competitive, race” come November.

During the primary, Powdrell said he would seek to bolster public safety, particularly in Southeast Albuquerque, and tackle mental health issues, specifically for those isolated in the East Mountains. Powdrell did not concede on Tuesday night but acknowledge the uphill battle before him as votes were being counted. Powdrell said this:

“We didn’t have a large team and we did the best we could. I feel that my team did an awesome job.”

Thomas Riley won the Republican primary for District 5 against Wayne Yevoli. Riley secured 70.57% (5,639 votes) to Yevoli’s29.43% (2,352).

Incumbent Democrat Bernalillo County Commissioner Eric Olivas will now face off with Republican Thomas Riley in the general election.

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-statewide-office-election-results-primary-2026/71284570

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-primary-election-results-june-2026/71272976

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/some-bernalillo-county-primary-races-apparent-others-too-close-to-call/3055082

BERNALILLO COUNTY PROBATE JUDGE

There was one Probate Judge position on the June 2 primary ballot, with four Democrats running and no Republicans running. The top vote getter will be declared the victor and will be sworn into office January 1, 2027:

Democrat Veronica Hernandez: 40.74% (26,979 votes) (WINNER)
Democrat Carmela Starace: 31.44% (20,815 votes)
Democrat Robert Padilla: 17.05% (11,287)
Democrat Joeseph Gandert: 10.77% (7,134)

CONCLUSION

Congratulations and best wishes to Bernalillo County Sherriff John Allen for being elected to a second term as Sheriff, to County Assessor elect Linda Stover, and to Probate Judge elect Veronica Hernandez with all three to be sworn in on January 1, 2026.

Best wishes to Incumbent Democrat Bernalillo County Commissioner Eric Olivas and Republican Thomas Riley as they campaign against each other for Bernalillo County Commission District 5.

NM Democrats Nominate First Female Ticket In History For Governor and Luietenant Governor; Haaland Landslide Over Bregman; Toulouse Oliver Landslide Over Pope; Republicans Nominate Hull And Gallegos; Haaland Clear Front Runner To Win In November; Expect Same Strategy From Haaland Of Spending Millions And Ignoring Republican Opposition To Win

Posted on June 3, 2026 by Pete Dinelli

DEMOCRATS NOMINATE HAALAND AND TOULOUSE OLIVER FOR GOVERNOR AND LUIETENANT GOVERNOR

On June 2, New Mexico history was made in the Democratic Primary for Governor on two levels. Former Biden Cabinet Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman to be nominated for Governor of New Mexico and Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver won the nomination for Lieutenant Governor.

Both women won their Democratic Party nominations in a landslide against their male opponents. They became the very first all-female ticket in New Mexico history for Governor and Lieutenant Governor in this fall’s general election.

Both Haaland’s and Toulouse Oliver’s victories were called by news outlets a mere 34 and 51 minutes respectively after polls closed at 7:00 p,m. .

As of 7:34 pm, June 2, in the Governor’s race Deb Haaland garnered 72.3% (156,861 votes) of the votes to Sam Bregman’s 27.7% (60,189) cast around New Mexico.

With her second term as secretary of state expiring at the end of the year, Toulouse Oliver secured her landslide victory over her sole challenger in the Democratic Primary primary, state Sen. Harold Pope Jr., who has represented District 23 since 2021. As of 7:51 p.m. Toulouse Oliver garnered 80% (168,109) of the votes to Pope’s 20% (42,127) cast around New Mexico.

DEB HAALAND CLAIMS VICTORY, SAM BREGMAN CONCEDES

On June 2, Deb Haaland claimed victory at Albuquerque’s Old Town Plaza where upwards of 300 supporters and attended. During her remarks, Haaland cited her past struggles with alcoholism and reliance on government assistance programs. Haaland vowed to overhaul New Mexico’s beleaguered child welfare system and stand up to President Donald Trump if elected governor. Haaland said this:

“Like so many New Mexicans, I’ve been through hard times. … New Mexicans want a leader who will stand up for working people and who is ready to take on Donald Trump.”

Bernalillo County District Attorney conceded defeat in a statement after polls closed Tuesday. He said he planned to call Haaland to congratulate her, but he stopped short of saying if he planned to vote for her for in November. Bregman said before that he would not endorse Haaland if he lost the primary to her after Haaland posted his relatives’ homes on her campaign website. He called the move a “cheap political trick” and a “failure in judgment” adding, “what she did was endanger my family.” Haaland never apologized with her campaign saying the addresses were public record.

Bregman said this in his concession:

“While tonight’s results were not what we hoped for, I am deeply grateful to every New Mexican who supported our campaign.”

REPUBLICANS NOMINATE HULL AND GALLEGOS FOR GOVERNOR AND LUIETENANT GOVERNOR

The results of the Republican primary for Governor and Lieutenant Governor were a lot closer than the Democratic primary.

On the Republican side for Governor, former three-term mayor of Rio Rancho Greg Hull prevailed to win the Republican nomination claiming victory over business owner Doug Turner and cannabis entrepreneur Duke Rodriguez in a three-way race for the GOP nomination.

Gregg Hull secured 47% of the vote (56,412), Doug W. Turner secured 36.9% of the vote (44,319) and Duke Rodriguez secured 16.1% of the vote (19,288)

On the Republican side for Lieutenant Governor, state Senator David Gallegos won a three-way race against private attorney Aubrey Blair Dunn and Manny Lardizabal. State Senator David M. Gallegos secured 49.8% of the vote (56,359), Aubrey Blair Dunn secured 37.8% of the vote (42,752) and Manny Lardizabal secured 12.5% of the vote 14,147.

GREGG HULL CLAIMS VICTORY

Former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull declared victory shortly after 10 p.m. on Tuesday evening before upwards of 200 supporters at the Oasis Event Center in Northwest Albuquerque. In his victory speech, Hull said New Mexicans have a clear choice in the November general election, citing the difference between his views and Haaland’s. Greg Hull said this:

“We ran a campaign that focused on the issues, a campaign that focused on who we were and not a campaign that attacked or tore people down. … I respect that she has served in various positions over her career, but New Mexico families are hurting, and policies of the last eight years under one-party control of this state have failed the state.”

VOTER TURNOUT

Overall voter turn out was the largest primary turnout in the last twelve years helped by the inclusion of independent voters who for the first time were allowed to vote in major party primaries. Independents voted Democratic with 28,000 and voted Republican with 10,000.

Deb Haaland’s landslide victory was 72% to Sam Bregman’s 28% as she won every single county in the state by varying percentages. In Santa Fe County she won with 80% of the Democratic vote. In Bernalillo County Haaland won with 69%. In Dona Ana County, she won with 79%. In conservative Chavez County, thought to lean moderate Bregman, she won with 73%

Unofficial results show in the Democratic governor primary 218,000 votes were cast.

Upwards of 28,000 independents voted in the election. The secretary of State reported that 74% of Independents voted in the Democratic primary or about 28,000.

Without the independent vote, the Democratic Primary turnout for governor was upwards of 190,000 compared to the 176,000 Democrats who cast ballots in 2018, the last primary with no incumbent.

The Republican turnout hit 120,000, up from the 117,000 who cast ballots in in the ’22 five way gubernatorial primary. The independents added 10,000 to the GOP total this year so more Republicans actually voted for governor in 2022 than 2026.

Over 10% of the registered independents chose to take part in the primary. That was in line with analyst forecasts. The number is expected to grow in future cycles.

Link to relied upon news source:

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/elections/bernalillo-county-exceeds-voter-turnout-in-new-mexico-primary/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/new-mexico-governor-primaries-spark-high-voter-turnout/ar-AA24DB2c

June 4 post, New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan https://www.joemonahan.com/

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Given the landslide victory of Deb Haaland over Sam Bregman as well as the huge voter turnout amongst Democrats, it is clear that Deb Haaland is the clear front runner to be elected Governor come the November general election. Adding to her momentum is the historical nature of her candidacy in that she will be the very first Native American woman ever elected governor of any state if she wins in November. Then there is her ability to fundraise millions to run, having already raised $12 Million for the primary.

The 2026 New Mexico primary for Governor was the most expensive primary in the state’s history. According to finance reports filed with the Secretary of State, Democrats Deb Haaland raised over $12 Million while Sam Bregman raised upwards of $4 Million. Republican fundraising efforts were dwarfed by comparison. Gregg Hull raised $544,920, Doug Turner raised $703,189 and Duke Rodriquez self-financed to the tune of $1.5 Million.

Control of New Mexico’s Governor’s Office has flipped back and forth between Democrats and Republicans over the last 40-plus years. The last time a governor was elected to replace an outgoing governor of the same political party was in 1982, when Toney Anaya was elected to succeed fellow Democrat Bruce King.

In the last 30 years, New Mexicans have only elected Republicans Gary Johnson and Susana Martinez to the Governor’s Office each serving two four year terms for a total of 16 years. However, no Republican has won a statewide race in New Mexico since former Supreme Court justice Judith Nakamura did so in 2016. Today, New Mexico is considered “solid blue” Democratic state.

Democrats currently hold virtually all statewide offices and a majority in both legislative chambers. Democrats have large majorities in both the New Mexico State Senate and House of Representatives and that will not change. There are 26 Democrats, 16 Republicans in the NM Senate. In the NM House of Representative there are 44 Democrats and 26 Republicans.

All 5 of New Mexico’s federal congressional delegation of 2 United States Senators and 3 Representatives are Democrats. In the last 3 Presidential elections, Donald Trump lost New Mexico to Democrats. In 2016 Donald Trump lost to Hillary Clinton, in 2020 Trump lost to Joe Biden and in 2024 Trump lost to Kamala Harris.

It’s more likely than not that Deb Haaland will use the identical strategy to run for Governor in the general election and she did in the primary. She will raise millions, outspend her Republican opponent and ignore and simply refuse to debate and rely on paid media to get elected.

Links to review all election results state wide is here:

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-statewide-office-election-results-primary-2026/71284570

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-primary-election-results-june-2026/71272976

The links to relied upon or quoted news sources are here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/the-race-is-set-deb-haaland-to-face-off-against-gregg-hull-in-new-mexicos-open-contest-for-governor/3055524

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/maggie-toulouse-oliver-wins-democratic-primary-for-lieutenant-governor/3055532

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/elections/krqe-news-13-projects-deb-haaland-as-winner-of-democratic-nomination-for-governor/

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/elections/gregg-hull-winner-of-republican-nomination-for-new-mexico-governor/

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/deb-haaland-leading-in-democratic-race-for-governor/

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/gregg-hull-leading-in-republican-race-for-governor/

Links to related Dinelli articles are here:

Profiles, Platforms And Positions Of Democrats For Governor Sam Bregman And Debra Haaland; The Most Expensive Race In Primary Election History; Primary Election June 2; Please Vote!

Profiles, Platforms And Positions Of The Three Republican Candidates Running For New Mexico Governor; The Most Expensive Race In Primary Election History; Primary Election June 2; Please Vote!

ABQ City Council Votes Along Party Lines 5 Yes, 4 No Raising Minimum From $12 to $15 Over 3 Years; Future Annual Adjustments Tied To Inflation; City Council President Klarisa Peña Emerges As Most Influential And Effective City Council President In Some Time

Posted on June 2, 2026 by Pete Dinelli

On Monday, June 1, after a heated meeting, the Albuquerque City Council passed a heavily amended and scaled down ordinance that raises the city’s minimum wage from $12 to $15 over three years with future annual adjustments tied to inflation. The amended ordinance cut tipped workers’ percentage of the minimum from 60% to 50% and gave city workers, making less than $80,000 a year, the same percentage wage increase as the minimum in annual adjustments. City Councilors voted to approve the amended ordinance on a 5-4 vote which will raise the minimum wage to $13 in 2027 and thereafter an additional dollar every year until reaching $15 in 2029. Annual adjustments tied to inflation will begin in 2030.

The vote to approve the amended ordinance was strictly along party lines. Democrats City Council President Klarissa Peña and City Councilors Tammy Fiebelkorn, Joaquín Baca, Nichole Rogers and Stephanie Telles voted “YES” to adopt the amended ordinance. Voting “NO” were Republicans City Council Vice President Dan Champine, Brook Bassan, Dan Lewis and Renée Grout.

ORIGINAL ORDINANCE

The original ordinance as sponsored by Democrats Councilors Tammy Fiebelkorn, Joaquin Baca, Nichole Rogers and Stephanie Telles, would have raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour and $14 for employees who receive at least $2,500 in healthcare and/or childcare benefits. The original ordinance would have raised the pay of tipped employees to $9 an hour.

The original bill, like the one recently passed in Santa Fe, would implement annual cost of living adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index and Fair Market Rent measured by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, for a two-bedroom home in Albuquerque.

The original ordinance states that the Fair Market Rate for a two-bedroom unit in Albuquerque increased 56% between 2021 and 2026, but the minimum wage has increased 26% in that same timeframe. Meanwhile, the 2024 Albuquerque Region Housing Needs Assessment found that 52% of all renters in Albuquerque are cost burdened paying more than 30% of their income on housing.

Had the original bill passed, both the wage increase and the cost of living adjustments would follow Santa Fe’s timeline on its $17 minimum wage, with the former starting in January and the latter in January 2028.

ECONOMIST CLAIMS INCREASES NOT EXESSIVE

Local economist Kelly O’Donnell said the increases were not excessive, but the annual adjustments could create uncertainty for businesses. O’Donnell, an economic consultant, said the proposed wage increases are reasonable and in line with the higher costs of goods and services. Kelly O’Donnell said this:

“It’s a meaningful increase that will make a very meaningful difference in the budgets of low-wage workers … but it’s not so high that it will have a really negative impact on employment.”

O’Donnell said recent large-scale studies, including one in the past few years, have found that “modest to moderate” wage increases do not kill jobs the way the business world sometimes suggests. She said while wage increases can lead to slightly slower job growth in certain sectors they often have “an immediate positive stimulus” on the local economy that benefits businesses and workers. O’Donnell said this:

“I think it will reduce turnover and will encourage folks to enter the workforce, so those are two big positives for business. The other thing is, it puts money in the pockets of workers who go out and spend their money at those businesses so that money will flow back to many of these businesses.”

O’Donnell said tying an annual cost of living increase to Fair Market Rent (FMR) is more unique and she could see how businesses would have mixed feelings about that aspect. She said the FMR’s “tend to be a little bit more volatile” than inflation, despite the former having gone up much faster than the latter in recent years.

O’Donnell said that while inflation is more steady and predictable in its movements, housing costs take “bigger swings” in some years and don’t change much at all in others. She said such a dynamic could lead to uncertainty for businesses, which often pay more attention to inflation. O’Donnell said this:

“I understand the motivation [for including Fair Market Rent], and it makes sense to me. On the other hand, I also understand why the business community might be a little uncomfortable with it. If you inject this higher, more volatile measure into how you’re calculating growth for your minimum wage, you inject a little bit more uncertainty, and I think that, if anything, one of the important roles of government is to help provide a level of certainty and continuity for the economy.”

MINIMUM WAGES ACROSS THE STATE

The most notable minimum wages across the state are:

Statewide: $12 (Enacted by legislature, took effect 2023.)
Santa Fe: $17.50 (Takes effect 2027.)
Las Cruces: $13.01 (Took effect 2026.)

CITY COUNCILORS REACT

It was Progressive Democrat Tammy Fiebelkorn who drafted the original ordinance over several months with the assistance of Mayor Tim Keller’s administration. Fiebelkorn called it a “middle ground” as she wanted to raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour or more. She said, with the compromise, “we’re not too dramatically impacting businesses, but we’re also getting people the relief they need, and we’re getting relief for taxpayers too.”

Fiebelkorn said the income for minimum wage workers in Albuquerque is 20% less than the national average, while rents in the city are 25% more than the national average.

Republican City Councilor Renée Grout said this in a statement about the original proposed ordinance:

“[The minimum wage increase] won’t raise anyone’s standard of living, but it will kill the small businesses that offer entry-level jobs. … The real path to financial stability is upward mobility, and small local businesses offer those opportunities. If Albuquerque adopts a $15 per hour minimum wage, it will still take almost $20 per hour for a single person to afford a market rate studio apartment. Upward mobility gets people there; raising the minimum wage doesn’t even come close.”

Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis this in a statement about the original ordinance:

“[The increase is] another misguided policy that ignores economic reality and threatens the small businesses that power Albuquerque’s economy. … [The] strong opposition to the proposal from the Hispano Chamber, Albuquerque Chamber and New Mexico Restaurant Association says it all. … Thousands of local employers and workers are warning that this proposal will hurt Albuquerque’s economy. We should listen to the people creating jobs, not politicians pushing policies that risk destroying them.”

AMENDMENTS SPONSORED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT KLARISSA PEÑA PASS

The original bill was co-sponsored by Democrats City Councilors Tammy Fiebelkorn, Joaquín Baca, Nichole Rogers and Stephanie Telles. The original ordinance increasing the minimum wage would have raised the minimum wage from $15 an hour in 2027 and also 2028 with annual living adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index and Fair Market Rent (FMR), measured by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, for a two-bedroom home in Albuquerque.

Four amendments sponsored by Democrat City Council President Klarissa Peña passed with Democrats Tammy Fiebelkorn, Joaquín Baca, Nichole Rogers and Stephanie Telles voting YES. The four amendments passed were:

Mandating city workers be included in annual increases
Spread minimum wage rais increases across three years
Removal of the Fair Market Rent provision from consideration in annual adjustments and
Reduced the percentage of the minimum paid to tipped workers.

PUBLIC INPUT

On June 1, during public comments, things became very heated to the point that two people had to be removed for disruptive conduct.

Supporters expressed a struggle to afford basic supplies amid rising costs of rent and other goods and services. A supporter scrolled a Zillow map showing dozens of Albuquerque rentals on a $15 an hour budget. On a $12 an hour budget, it appeared the closest available rental was in Portales.

Those opposing the bill asked councilors to take their time and spoke of the ordinance leading to layoffs and businesses shutting down.

One woman said the ordinance seemed “inflationary,” saying costs would be passed on to consumers, including minimum-wage workers. She added, “These entry level jobs are fine, they are not designed to support a family.”

A man said minimum wage should not be a career or a living wage, but a “starter job.” He said the ordinance would raise the standards of entry-level jobs, affecting availability for those living on the streets and others getting on their feet.

A small business owner said the ordinance “deserves serious discussion” and asked councilors to study how it will affect businesses and workers before implementing it.

In a statement read aloud to the Council, the owner of Taqueria Mexico said he supported the ordinance and said when workers struggle to cover basic needs they also suffer stress, which can lead to less productivity and morale.

Another employer said she was paying $15 already but was concerned on tying annual adjustments to housing costs. She asked for something more staggered and easier to sustain saying this:

“We can’t have these increases be unknown, we have to plan.”

Camp Dozier, who is a co-owner of Happy Hiker in Old Town, said the change wouldn’t impact him because he already pays his employees more than Albuquerque’s minimum wage. Dozier said this:

“Things have gotten more expensive, but we’re still surviving, so we’re not worried about it for now. … It’s always been my opinion, minimum wage means that’s the lowest a company can pay an employee. That doesn’t seem right, so we always want to go above that. … Every salary should be able to support the cost of living.”

Paul Gessing, president of the taxpayer watch group Rio Grande Foundation, expressed concerns about the impact on small businesses and said this:

“It’s a very troubling and significant increase in the minimum wage at a time when, yeah, affordability is an issue, but we could be doing other things in this state and in the city to improve affordability. Do you believe small businesses are going to suffer as a result of this? Yes, absolutely.”

While the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce supports the intent of the ordinance, they’re also concerned the increase will fall on small businesses who they said are already facing inflation and supply cost pressures. Vice President of Government Relations for the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Matthew Stackpole said this:

“The employers most impacted will be local restaurants, retailers, childcare providers and family-owned businesses. Not large national corporations.”

In a letter to the City Council, Ernie C’deBaca, president and CEO of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, asked members of the body to take their time. He said the chamber “supports fair wages and a thriving workforce,” but the group also has to consider the challenges faced by small businesses.

C’deBaca said “fast-tracking a 25% increase” to the minimum wage was a concern and the proposed ordinance needed input from small businesses as they cannot absorb such increases like larger ones. C’deBaca said this:

“These businesses are not large corporations with deep reserves. … They are the most vulnerable when costs rise faster than revenue.”

C’deBaca said tying annual adjustments to the Consumer Price Index and Fair Market Rate a major concern. Should recent trends continue, he said, minimum wage would reach $26 an hour by 2037, adding that “policies that increase costs too quickly put their progress at risk.”

“A 25% wage increase may sound simple on paper, but for many small and Hispanic-owned businesses, it could mean reduced hours, fewer jobs, higher prices, and in the worst cases, closure. … Let’s make the right decision, not just a quick decision.”

CITY COUNCLORS REACT TO PASSAGE

Republican City Councilors Dan Champine and Renée Grout spoke in opposition to the increase in the minimum wage. Both cast minimum wage jobs as a necessary place for someone to begin their working career and before they build their talents and move onto a career path.

After all four amendment passed and before the final vote, Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis said this:

“The fact is this will have a negative effect on job creation in the city, this will have a negative effect on the economy to our city.”

Progressive Democrat Joaquín Baca pointed out there’s always a reason not to change things but said the only thing he had seen change recently were the costs of gas and other crucial commodities.

Progressive Democrat Tammy Fiebelkorn said this:

“I will just remind us all that minimum wage is literally the floor, it is the least you can pay someone and it costs a certain amount to live in our community. And we are not covering those costs with our minimum wage now. … People in our community cannot make their way on $12… this is a step in the right direction.”

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Moderate Democrat Klarissa Peña was elected City Council President in January by Republicans Dan Champine, Brook Bassan, Dan Lewis and Renée Grout to the complete chagrin of highly Progressive Democrats Tammy Fiebelkorn, Joaquín Baca, Nichole Rogers and Stephanie Telles who wanted to elect one of their own.

Moderate Democrat Klarissa Peña was elected to a fourth four year term in November, 2026 after a highly contested and negative race where she was opposed by a highly Progressive Democrat. Klarissa Peña is now the onlymoderate Democrat on the City Council capable of bridging the gap in the middle with 4 highly progressive Democrats to her left and 4 highly conservative Republicans to her right.

With the enactment of minimum wage ordinance after adoption of the four amendments to the minimum wage ordinance sponsored by Democrat City Council President Klarissa Peña, she has emerged to be one of the most single, influential and effective City Council Presidents in some time. Peña’s influence equals or even exceeds that of Progressive Democrat Mayor Tim Keller as she exerts tremendous influence over his programs, policies and funding.

Peña’s minimum wage vote was not the first time she has exerted her authority to reign in ill advised and poorly drafted legislation by progressives on the city council. She did so by voting to defeat the “upzoning” amendments to the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) advocated by Mayor Keller and supported by Progressive Democrats Tammy Fiebelkorn, Joaquín Baca, Nichole Rogers and Stephanie Telles. The up zoning was an aggressive effort to double or triple density in all residential areas of the city to increase affordable housing arguing it would increase affordable housing. It would not have. Upzoning of virtually 100% all residential properties in the city would have allowed unrestricted development by developers and investors and would have destroyed established neighborhood. Upzoning would have resulted in gentrification, especially in historical neighborhoods.

As is the case with most if not all legislation proposed and sponsored by highly progressive Democrat City Councilor Tammy Feiblekorn, the original minimum wage ordinance she sponsored went way too far and was clearly detrimental to the business community. As usual, Feibelkorn simply advocated her own private agenda and ignored those who opposed her efforts who tried to reason with her.

Simply put, the amended minimum wage bill enacted by the city council is reasonable and well measured, especially with the elimination of the Fair Market Rent provision.

The enacted increase in the minimum wage ordinance now goes to Mayor Tim Keller where he is expected to sign it into law.

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/city-council-passes-minimum-wage-bill-with-some-tweaks/3054465

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/albuquerque-city-council-passes-minimum-wage-increase/

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/albuquerque-city-council-approves-minimum-wage-increase-during-heated-meeting/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/councilors-propose-raising-minimum-wage-to-15-an-hour/3053508

https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-city-council-to-vote-on-3-minimum-wage-increase/71457554

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/proposal-in-city-council-would-raise-minimum-in-albuquerque/

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/albuquerque-city-councilors-propose-raising-minimum-wage-to-15-an-hour/

NEWS AND COMMENTARY

Monthly Archives: June 2026

City Hall Spending Increases 53% Over 9 years Under Mayor Tim Keller; Astonishing Funding Made For So Few Unhoused For Services And Shelter They Do Not Want; Keller And City Council Need To Find Better Approach To Unhoused Crisis To Get Them Off Streets

Jaemes Shanley Guest Column: Lost In The Woods – Adventures With The City Of Albuquerque Budget; Dinelli POSTSCRIPT: The City’s Unhoused And Its Financial Commitment To Them

ABQ. City Council Passes Amended $1.47 Billion Budget After Skirmish With Mayor Keller Over $11.8 Million Discrepancy; Council Enacts One Year Objectives Resolution; Mayor Approves Budget Without Signing And No Line Item Vetos

Bernalillo County Election Results for County Sherriff, County Assessor, District 5 County Commission and Probate Judge; Only Contested County Race Remaining For November 3 General Election Is Dist. 5 County Commission Seat; Congratulations And Best Wishes To Victors!

ABQ City Council Votes Along Party Lines 5 Yes, 4 No Raising Minimum From $12 to $15 Over 3 Years; Future Annual Adjustments Tied To Inflation; City Council President Klarisa Peña Emerges As Most Influential And Effective City Council President In Some Time