EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a summary review of the enacted Fiscal Year 2026 budget for the City of Albuquerque. The POSTSCRIPT contains a summary breakdown of the individual budgets for the 29 city departments with highlights.
On Monday, May 19, Albuquerque City approved a $1.5 billion city budget on a 6-2 vote. Voting YES for enactment of the budget were Democrats Joquine Baca, Nicole Rogers, Louie Sanchez, Tammy Feibelkorn and Republicans Renee Grout and Dan Champine. Voting NO were Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis and Democrat City Councilor Klarissa Peña. Republican Council President Brook Bassan was absent.
The fiscal year begins July 1, 2025 and ends June 30, 2026. The enacted budget is a whopping $1.5 billion budget. Last year’s 2025 was $1.4 billion. The $1.5 billion budget continues investments in public safety, programs to address homelessness, small businesses and community development, and initiatives that benefit working families.
The General Fund Budget, which is the funding for the individual city departments, is $870.49 million, an increase of $19.2 million or a 2.3% increase above the 2025 budget. It maintains fundamental service efforts from previous years with reductions in expenses from projected savings and reductions in recuring expenses from unfilled vacant positions.
The link to review the entire 234 page proposed 2026 fiscal year budget with bars and graphs and the individual 27 departments proposed budgets is here:
https://www.cabq.gov/dfa/documents/fy26-proposed-budget-web-version.pdf
APPROPRIATIONS
The approved General Fund budget for FY/26 is $870.4 million reflecting a total increase of $19.2 million or 2.3% from the original approved FY/25 budget, not including reserves. The amount of non-recurring appropriations at $29.1 million is slightly lower as compared to the $32.4 million in the original approved FY/25 budget. This decrease reflects the reduction of $3.3 million in non-recurring funding that supported various one-time initiatives in FY/25.
REVENUE AND SOURCES
For the FY/26 approved budget, recurring revenues are estimated to be $866 million, which is 4.4%, or $36.9 million, above the FY/25 estimated actual. Total Gross Receipts Tax revenue is expected to grow 2.9%, or by $16.6 million.
Total operating resources for all funds is projected at $1.5 billion for FY/26. This is $102.5 million higher than the FY/25 original approved budget of $1.39 billion. The increase is the result of estimated additional tax, service revenue, and use of fund balance. Revenue categories continued to demonstrate slight economic growth from the FY/25 original budget as the City has normalized from the economic impacts of COVID-19.
Gross Receipt Tax (GRT), enterprise revenues, and property taxes together make up 64.3% of the City’s total revenues. GRT is the City’s major source of revenue and is estimated at $603 million or 40.2% of total resources for FY/26. Property Tax comprises 13% of total revenue.
The various enterprises operated by the City are estimated to generate 11.1% of total revenue in FY/26. Inter-fund transfers and the use of available fund balances make up the next category of revenue at 21.1%, while the other categories that include payments from other governmental entities, permits, fees, and other charges, comprise 14.6% of overall remaining City revenue.
MAYOR’S STATEMEMT ON BUDGET PASSAGE
After the council vote, a Keller news release said the budget passed with strong support and minimal changes, maintaining key investments in public safety, homelessness response, and family services. Keller said this:
“This budget builds on real momentum, lower crime, more shelter and treatment options, and stronger support for working families. Together, we’re investing in a safer, more compassionate, and more resilient city.”
City Chief Financial Officer Kevin Sourisseau said this:
“We’re protecting the core services our residents count on every day while preparing responsibly for economic uncertainty. …This budget holds the line on our values and ensures we keep moving in the right direction.”
CITY COUNCILOR’S REACT TO BUDGET PASSAGE
Republican City Councilor Renee Grout chairs the Committee of the Whole, which considers the budget and the capital improvements program proposed by the mayor. She said councilors had little to work with, but were able to support key goals. Grout said this:
“The passage of the FY 2026 budget and the adoption of our one-year objectives … demonstrate the council’s dedication to both sound financial management and a focused approach to addressing the needs of our growing community. … “These actions provide the framework for how we intend to serve Albuquerque residents in the coming year.”
Grout said she’s hopeful the city sees revenues pick up, giving councilors the opportunity to give employees a mid-year pay hike.
Democrat City Councilor Louie Sanchez said the final budget includes some items that were important to him and his constituents, but leaves the city with a bloated administration and little left over to support rank-and-file employees. The council approved a Sanchez amendment that guarantees $250,000 for a domestic violence sexual assault commission.
Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis said there are a lot of good things in the budget, but that it also misses the mark in important ways. Lewis said this:
“We could have given a significant amount of increase to the people who do the most work in this city, but we didn’t do that. … There’s not a whole lot in this budget that I can support, and I don’t think it serves the people of the city very well.”
Lewis said “all the wrong departments” have grown during Mayor Keller’s tenure and that the budget doesn’t include money for the police department to hire enough new officers to adequately address the city’s crime problem.
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
The city council’s biggest disappointment was being unable to provide pay hikes they wanted for city employees. The budget, as amended, calls for many workers to receive a 2.5% pay raise.
Mayor Tim Keller’s proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year included a 2% raise for employees. The council then approved an amendment adding another 0.5% after voting down another that would have increased the total to 3%, but devoted less to libraries, open space management, after-school programs and other priorities.
The raises apply to employees not associated with the firefighters’ union, which had negotiated a separate deal. Their total cost is just over $2 million, about half of which was freed up when the U.S. Department of Justice ended federal oversight of the Albuquerque Police Department.
Workers in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees may get larger pay increases, as the budget brings all employees in that union up to the minimum negotiated rate.
MAYOR TIM KELLER’S PRIORITES FOR THIRD TERM REFLECTED IN BUDGET
Ever since Tim Keller was first elected Mayor in 2017, public safety, addressing the homeless, housing and the behavioral health crisis have been his top priorities as Mayor. The proposed F/Y 26 budget reflects a continuation of Mayor Keller’s priorities as he seeks of third 4 year term as Mayor.
PUBLIC SAFETY
As has been the case for the last 7 years, crime reduction and public safety are Keller’s major priorities reflected in the 2026 enacted budget. The approved budget fully funds police, fire, and the Albuquerque Community Safety Department.
The Crime statistics in most major categories for 2024 are down. APD’s arrest rates have increased, and the homicide solve rate remains above 90% for the third straight year.
The Albuquerque Community Safety department provides an alternative response for mental and behavioral health calls. It has taken 100,000 calls for service and freed police officers to focus on violent crime.
This 2026 enacted budget includes staffing and operating costs projected for Fire Station 23, located at the forthcoming Southwest Public Safety Center, which is slated to open in Q2 of the fiscal year.
The Albuquerque Police Department and the Fire and Rescue Department are two of the largest departments of the 27 departments for City operating appropriations, primarily due to their large work forces.
The two departments together comprise upwards of 30% of the total fund appropriations of $1.5 billion and upwards of 47% % of the General Fund appropriations of $845.9 million in FY/26.
The approved F/Y 26 budget fully funds police, fire, and the community safety department. The most notable line item appropriations for public safety include:
- $2.7 million to centralize critical safety technologies and improve officer training and reporting efficiencies. This investment ensures that APD remains at the forefront of officer safety, accountability, and operational effectiveness.
- $2.1 million to support the retention of officers with 19+ years of service and keep effective personnel in the force.
- $2.8 million to support the school-based violence intervention program and the taskforce on domestic violence.
- $10.2 million to support the Community Safety field response program that provides adequate response to the community to address non-violent mental and behavioral health emergencies with implementation of the bi-lateral split of the city into two area commands.
- $1.1 million for the staffing and operating costs projected for Fire Station 23 in the Southwest quadrant of the city will be equipped with one four-person Advanced Life Support truck and will offer improved service for the area’s growing population and needs.
- $6.5 million for the collective bargaining agreement contract negotiated with the Fire department union.
HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
For the last 7 years, the Keller Administration has attempted to take a comprehensive approach to address homelessness, behavioral health, and addiction treatment. Over the past three years, the Keller Administration has taken critical steps to build a network of support for the unhoused called the Gateway Network System. The City is now providing shelter and services to more than 1,000 men, women, and children nightly through the Gateway Network, with more programs and services coming online this year.
By using operating and opioid settlement dollars, the Gateway system will attempt to take hundreds more off the streets and into addiction and other treatment programs, and into housing.
The priorities contained in the F/Y 26 budget include:
- Leveraging opioid settlement funding to get hundreds more people off our streets and connected to the treatment, housing, and services they need to recover.
- $8 million for permanent supportive housing vouchers to support the City’s Housing First model. Full funding for service contracts for mental health, substance abuse, early intervention and prevention programs, domestic violence shelters and services, sexual assault services, health and social service center providers, and services to abused, neglected and abandoned youth.
- $6.9 million for Gateway West, which has operated at close to full occupancy for much of the year.
- $500 thousand to continue the funding for Albuquerque Street Connect, a highly effective program that focuses on people experiencing homelessness who use the most emergency services and care, to establish ongoing relationships that result in permanent supportive housing.
The City of Albuquerque has created what is called the Gateway Network of support for people struggling with homelessness and addiction. The network includes the following:
1. Gateway Center– Campus providing medical, behavioral, and social services including overnight beds, first responder intake, medical sobering and respite.
- Annual Impact: 20,200 Individuals
- Open Since 2022, more services coming in 2025
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. Gateway Young Adult – Housing and support for young adults ages 15-25 experiencing homelessness, tailored to their unique needs.
- Annual projected Impact: 120 Individuals
- Opening Late 2025
The Gateway Center Houses Critical Services And Seven Tenants.
The services provided are:
- First Responder Receiving Area – 20 people/night
- Medical Sobering Center – 50 people/night
- Medical Respite Center – 50 people/night
- Women’s Navigation Center – 50 people/night plus additional 50 coming on line
- Men’s Navigation Center – 92 people/night with the beds coming on line
- Engagement Center – providing connection/access services to more than 1,000 people per year
The Tenants are:
- Turquoise Lodge Behavioral Hospital
- Haven Behavioral Hospital
- Ideal Option Substance Use Disorder Treatment
- AMG Hospital
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Vizionz-Sankofa Resource Center
- Albuquerque Community Safety – Trauma Recovery Center
KELLER’S UNSUSTAINABLE BLACK HOLE OF EXPENDURES
Mayor Tim Keller has taken an “all the above approach” to deal with the city’s homeless crisis. It’s an unsustainable “black hole” of expenditures.
Keller has established a total of five shelters that are to operate as an integrated system. The shelters are:
- The Gibson Gateway Shelter.
- The Gateway West Shelter.
- The Gateway Family Shelter.
- The Youth Homeless Shelter.
- The Recovery Shelter.
In the last three years, the city has spent upwards of $275 million on homeless shelters, programs and purchasing and remodeling motels for low-income housing. In 2021, the city acquired the Lovelace Hospital for $15 million and spent $90 million to remodel it into the Gateway shelter. In the last two years, the Keller Administration spent $25 million to purchase and remodel motels for low-income housing.
In fiscal year 2021-2022, the Family Community Services Department spent $35 million on homeless initiatives. In fiscal year 2022-2023 the department spent another $59 million on homeless initiatives. On June 23, 2022, Keller announced that the city was adding $48 million to the fiscal year 2023 budget to address housing and homelessness issues in Albuquerque.
The fiscal year 2026 approved General Fund budget for the Health, Housing and Homelessness Department is $53.3 million. The sum includes $48 million for strategic support, health and human services, affordable housing, mental health services, emergency shelter services, homeless support services, shelter operations, substance abuse services and $4.2 million for the Gibson Gateway maintenance division.
The city is seeking funding for 116 separate services contracts totaling $53.7 million to pay for services provided to the unhoused:
- $30.4 million for 32 affordable housing contracts.
- $6.3 million for 12 emergency shelter contracts.
- $2 million for 16 health and human service contracts.
- $5.7 million for 29 homeless support service contracts.
- $3.8 million for five Gateway Shelter operating contracts.
- $2.2 million for 11 mental health service contracts.
- $2.6 million for 11 substance abuse treatment contracts.
The 2024 Point In Time homeless survey found an 18% increase in Albuquerque’s homeless numbers. The PIT survey identified 2,740 people experiencing homelessness, including 1,231 on the streets, 1,289 in emergency shelters and 220 in transitional housing. The HHH Department’s fiscal year 2026 budget performance measures report emergency unsheltered as 6,103 in 2023, 7,420 in 2024, 7,257 targeted in 2025 and 8,439 targeted in 2026.
Keller has allowed the unhoused to proliferate city streets, parks and open spaces declining to enforce city and state vagrancy laws and make arrests. The problem is the chronic unhoused refuse to accept city services as Keller continues to throw city resources at the crisis.
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 around 66% experience some form of mental health condition. Upwards of 75% of the chronic, emergency unhoused simply refuse city services.
Keller has essentially proclaimed the unhoused as “wards of the city.” The mayor’s approach is not sustainable. Such responsibility must be undertaken by the state or federal government.
The millions spent to help the unhoused with many refusing services would have gone a long way to finance community centers, senior citizen centers, police and fire substations, preschool or after school programs, senior citizen programs, and police and fire programs.
VIABLE SOLUTION TO DEAL WITH UNHOUSED WHO REFUSE SERVICES
A viable and solution to deal with mentally ill and drug addicted homeless people who refuse city services is the initiation of civil mental health commitments by the state to mandate mental health care or drug addiction counseling in a hospital setting after a court hearing determining a person is a danger to themselves or others. Such an approach would get the mentally ill and drug addicted the health care they desperately need and off the streets.
The 2025 New Mexico legislature enacted the Behavioral Health package that will fund half billion-trust fund to build behavioral health facilities an hire personnel in 3 regions overseen by the courts to ensure due process of law and protect civil rights of the mentally ill. The county also has behavioral health tax where facilities are also being built.
Part of the enacted behavioral health package expands the definition of “serious danger to self and others”. The Bernalillo County District Attorney is authorized under the law to initiate civil mental health commitments and get people committed for longer periods of time to compel treatment and get them the mental health care and substance abuse counseling they need, thereby making those committed wards of the state.
Mayor Keller and the city was misguided to convert the old Lovelace hospital to a 24/7 shelter and should have kept it as a hospital and use the 200 patient rooms for civil mental health commitments. Instead the Keller Administration rezoned the hospital for a 24/7 homeless shelter.
FINAL COMMENT
One thing is for certain, Keller’s emphasis on providing services for the homeless had a direct impact on city council priorities including being able to provide pay hikes they wanted for city employees. Any complaints from the Council that they are disappointed should be totally disregarded given the extent in which they essentially rubber stamped all that Mayor Keller wanted as he seeks a third, four year term. The city council failed in its oversight of the city budget.
The links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:
https://www.cabq.gov/mayor/news/city-administration2019s-budget-prioritizes-safety-jobs-families
https://citydesk.nm.news/2025/its-budget-time-in-albuquerque-again/
https://nm.news/2025/05/20/albuquerques-1-5-billion-budget-is-approved-but-city-councilors-arent-celebrating/?mc_cid=8c21e6daf4&mc_eid=001367acf1
https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/albuquerque-city-councilors-approve-1-5b-budget/
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POSTSCRIPT
Following is a breakdown of the 29 City Department Budgets with highlights.
CITY DEPARTMENTS
The city of Albuquerque employs upwards 7,000 full-time, part time and contract employees who work for a total of 29 separate city hall departments with each having their own budgets. Those 29 departments are:
- Animal Welfare
- Arts & Cultural Affairs
- Aviation
- Chief Administrative Office
- City Support
- Civilian Police Oversight Agency
- Community Safety
- Council Services
- Economic Development
- Environmental Health
- Finance and Administrative Services
- Fire And Rescue General Services
- General Services
- Health, Housing, and Homelessness
- Human Resources
- Legal
- Mayor’s Office
- Municipal Development
- Office of the City Clerk
- Office of Inspector General
- Office of Internal Audit
- Parks and Recreation Department
- Planning
- Police
- Senior Affairs
- Solid Waste
- Technology & Innovation
- Transit
- Youth Family Services
SUMMARY DEPARTMENT BUDGETS REVIEWED
Following are the highlights of the 29 department budget adopted by the City Council
ANIMAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT
The Animal Welfare Department is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Albuquerque pets through a variety of programs and initiatives. These initiatives include animal shelters, adoption centers, veterinary clinics, “We Care” Community Pet Services Unit (providing vaccinations, microchipping and free to low cost spay/neuter for those that qualify), a free dog training class with every adoption, Animal Protection Services (public-safety), foster program, a community-cat program, a public information initiative, dog house program, dog tag program, pet food bank, a volunteer program. The approved FY/26 General Fund budget for Animal Welfare totals $16.5 million, a decrease of $106 thousand, or 0.6%, from the FY/25 original budget of $16.3 million. The FY/26 Animal Welfare Department budget contains funding for a total count of 158 FTEs and this number identical to last year.
ARTS AND CULTURE
The Department of Arts and Culture is comprised of seven divisions. The Albuquerque Biological Park (BioPark) operates the Zoo, Aquarium, Botanic Gardens, Heritage Farm, Bugarium, and Tingley Beach. The Albuquerque Museum protects and displays the artwork and historical items of the middle Rio Grande valley and brings world renowned traveling exhibits to the City.The approved FY/26 General Fund budget for the Department of Arts and Culture totals $52.8 million, a $416 thousand, or 0.8%, decrease from the FY/25 original budget. The proposed budget for the Arts and Cultural Department contains funding for 415 FTE’s which is one more than the 2025 FTE’s of 414.
FEE INCREASES
The F/Y 2026 proposed budget would increase the entrance fees for the Albuquerque Bio Park by $1. The increases come a year after the council approved fee increases for the Bio Park, municipal golf courses, and aquatic centers in last year’s budget, even as budget documents raise concerns about revenue for those services. Last year’s proposed budget raised golf, pool and zoo fees to generate about $2.5 million. However, this year’s budget notes a concern of “lower consumer demand as the economy cools, and absent any notable population growth,” and said revenue from the services was down 3.7% in February.
The BioPark’s attendance from June 2023 to July 2024, or fiscal year 2024 was 1.1 million, a slight increase from the previous year. So far in fiscal year 2025, from June 2024 to July 2025, budget documents report 568,915 visitors. Only BioPark visitors from in-state will feel the increase proposed for this year. Whether adults, seniors or children, they would pay $1 more upon entry. Last year, the council approved a fee increase of $5 for out-of-state visitors.
https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_84ca3efb-af0e-4278-ba8d-9e3aacd27987.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block
Aviation
The Aviation Department operates two municipal airports: The Albuquerque International Sunport, which covers approximately 2,200 acres on Albuquerque’s east side; and Double Eagle II (DE II) Reliever Airport, which covers approximately 4,500 acres on Albuquerque’s west side. The proposed FY/26 operating budget for the City’s two airports, including transfers for capital and debt service needs, is $121 million, or an increase of 41.1%. The adopted F/Y 26 budget includes funding for a total of 306 FTE’s which is six more than the F/Y 25 of 300.
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
The Department of the Chief Administrative Office (CAO) supports the Mayor of the City of Albuquerque and general city functions. The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the City Council to provide day-to-day management of the City. Together, the Mayor and CAO provide the leadership and direction to execute policies of the Mayor and those legislated by the City Council. The approved FY/26 General Fund budget for the Department of the Chief Administrative Office is $4.3 million, a decrease of 36.2% or $2.4 million from the FY/25 original level. The decrease is largely due to the budget realignment of $3.5 million to align positions with their reporting City Department. The CAO has a total of 23 FTE’s for FY/26 an increase of 5 from FY/25.
CITY SUPPORT
City Support functions as a division of City government that operates as a virtual department consisting of a number of diverse, city-wide, financial programs. The approved FY/26 General Fund budget for City Support is $36.71 million, a 0.7% decrease from the FY/25 original budget of $36.96 million.
CIVILIAN POLICE OVERSIGHT AGENCY
The Civilian Police Oversight Agency (CPOA) receives and investigates complaints and compliments about the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) from community members. The CPOA also reviews APD practices and policies and makes policy recommendations to the Chief of Police, the Mayor and City Council. City Ordinance mandates that the CPOA function as independently as possible from City Administration and City Council in order to carry out the Agency’s mission free of any perceived or actual bias. The approved FY/26 General Fund budget is $3 million, an increase of 7.7%, or $218 thousand, above the FY/25original budget. The department has a total of 21 FTEs, including the Department Director, investigators and support staff.
COMMUNITY SAFETY
The Albuquerque Community Safety Department (ACS) dispatches first responders to 911 calls with or without other first responders from the police and fire departments. ACS responders may have backgrounds as social workers, peer-to-peer support, clinicians, counselors, or in similar fields. It is a cabinet-level department responding to calls on inebriation (down and outs), homelessness, addiction, and mental health. It works alongside APD and AFR as a third option for 911 dispatch. Personnel changes include the mid-year creation of positions for 3 field operations program managers and a community outreach manager at $527 thousand and budget neutral reclassifications of a mental and behavioral health division manager to an associate director and a violence intervention program special projects manager to a violence intervention manager.The FY/26 approved General Fund budget for Community Safety is $17.9 million, a $38 thousand or 0.2% decrease from the FY/25 original budget. The F/Y 26 proposed budget for ACSD includes funding for a total of 140 full time employees (FTE) which is an increase of 9 FTEs over last years131 FTEs.
On April 2, 2025, ACS announced it had reached the milestone of taking 100,000 calls for service since opening in 2021. In recent years, ACS has gone from handling 900 calls a month to handling 3,000 a month, becoming a 24/7 service and opening a standalone headquarters in 2024. Despite thousands of calls being rerouted to ACS during that time, fatal confrontations between officers and those in crisis have continued. In recent years, APD officers have shot and killed several people, a fair number of whom were armed, during a behavioral health crisis.
https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_27832522-fac2-4fdb-b928-e3495e5c91c5.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block
COUNCIL SERVICES
Council Services provides support services to the Albuquerque City Council. City Council is the governing body charged with setting long-term goals and short-term objectives, enacting policy, adopting a budget for the operations of city government, and coordinating with other agencies. Albuquerque is divided into nine districts. Each district is represented by one councilor elected by district residents. The adopted FY/26 General Fund budget is $8.8 million, a 1.1% or $99 thousand increase from the FY/25 original budget. Technical adjustments include funding of $99 thousand for councilor required salary adjustments; $41 thousand for the employer’s share of the State mandated PERA increase of 0.5%. Council services employs a total of 43 FTE’s including the Director and City Council analysts and secretaries.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Economic Development Department provides services intended to bring long-term economic vitality to the City. Included in the department are the economic development division, the film and music offices, the international trade division, the management of contracts for tourism and the program for economic development investments. The FY/26 approved General Fund budget form the Economic Development Department is $5.1 million, a $72, 000 or 1.4% increase over the FY/25 original budget. The department employs 17 full time employees and that has remained unchanged for the last 3 years.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
The Environmental Health Department leads the City of Albuquerque in protecting the immediate and long-term health, safety and well-being of all citizens. Multiple department programs and divisions focus on public health and environmental threat prevention such as infectious diseases, climate change, environmental contamination, and air pollution. Accordingly, the department provides services such as restaurant inspections, mosquito control, regional air and groundwater monitoring, landfill remediation, and climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. The approved FY/26 General Fund budget totals $6.2 million, an increase of $942 thousand, or 18%, above the FY/25 original budget. A total of 91 FTEs have been approved for F/Y 26 an increase by 7.
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
The Finance and Administrative Services Department provides internal services including accounting, budget, purchasing, risk management, treasury, investment management, emergency management, metropolitan redevelopment, and equity and inclusion oversight.
The approved FY/26 General Fund appropriation is $17.1 million, an increase of 5.1%, or $827 thousand above the FY/25 original budget. A total of 158 FTE’s have been approved for FY/26.
FIRE AND RESCUE GENERAL SERVICES
The approved FY/26 General Fund budget for the Albuquerque Fire and Rescue Department (AFRD) is $132.4 million. It reflects an increase of 10.4% or $12.5 million above the FY/25 original budget. The budget contains funding of $6.5 million for the union negotiated Cost of Living Allocation (COLA), along with $3.8 million for the FY/25 negotiated COLA. The overtime appropriation was increased to $833,000 in proportion to union wage adjustments. The approved F/Y 26 budget for AFRD includes funding for a total of 827 full time employees (FTE) which is an increase of 6 FTEs over last years 821 FTEs.
GENERAL SERVICES
The General Services Department (GSD) was created in FY/23 with the key responsibility of centralizing maintenance of major City facilities such as the Albuquerque Government Center, the Baseball Stadium and the Convention Center, which includes contract management. This department assumes responsibility for the facilitation of security and fleet operations throughout the City. GSD also includes Energy and Sustainability as well as the Law Enforcement Center. The FY/26 approved General Services budget is $22.9 million, a decrease of 0.5% or $119 thousand below the FY/25 original budget. A total of 224 FTE’s have been approved for the department for FY/26 a reduction of 3.
HEALTH, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS DEPARTMENT
The Health, Housing and Homelessness (HHH) Department provides a range of services. The services offered by the department directly or by contract with community providers include the following:
- Behavioral health services which include mental health and substance abuse treatment programs
- Homeless services
- Domestic violence support
- Health care
- Gang/violence intervention and prevention
- Public health services.
- Rental assistance; and
- Affordable housing developments
HHH also operates four Health and Social Service Centers. Services are incorporated within programs to allow for performance measures and to align specifically to city goals and desired community conditions.
The approved FY/26 General Fund budget for HHH totals $53.3 million, including $8 million for housing vouchers budgeted in City Support for the transfer to Operating Grant Fund (265), an increase of $2.1 million above the FY/25 original budget. The FY/26 proposed budget for the department’s grants are estimated at $4.2 million in the Community Development Fund and $2.5 million in the Operating Grants Fund. The F/Y 26 approved budget for HHH includes funding for a total of 100 full time employees (FTE) which is identical to F/Y 25.
F/Y 2026 proposed budget reveals the following funding for 116 contracts to assist the homeless and the substance addicted:
- $30,381,000 for 32 Affordable Housing contracts,
- $6,347,619 for 12 Emergency Shelter contracts,
- $1,962,480 for 16 Health Service Contracts,
- $5,746,188 for 29 Homeless Support Service Contracts,
- $3,864,500 for 5 Gateway Shelter Operating contracts,
- $2,825,400 for 11 Mental Health Service Contracts,
- $2,573,526 million for 11 Substance Abuse Treatment Contracts
The grand total of all contracts is $53,79,149.
HUMAN RESOURCES
The Human Resources Department provides personnel management and employment services to the City of Albuquerque. Key focuses are: job classifications; competitive compensation and benefits programs; training and promotional opportunities for all employees; and dissemination, maintenance and interpretation of the Personnel Rules & Regulations to ensure consistency and compliance with the Merit System Ordinance.
The approved General Fund FY/26 budget for Human Resources is $5.9 million, a decrease of 3.2%, or $194 thousand below the FY/25 original budget. A total of 47 FTEs have been approved for FY/26.
LEGAL
The Legal Department advises the City in all legal matters, and consists of six main divisions: the Litigation Division; the Employment Law Division; the Municipal Affairs Division; the Division of Property, Finance, Development and Public Information; the Policy Division; and the Compliance Division. The Legal Department’s mission is to provide timely and quality legal advice to the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and all City departments; to effectively represent the City of Albuquerque in litigation in state and federal courts and administrative hearings; and how to legally bring about effective policy changes. The approved FY/26 General Fund budget is $7.1 million, an increase of $453 thousand over the FY/25 original budget. 53 total full-time positions have been approved for the department including the City Attorney and Deputy City Attorneys, para legals and secretaries.
MAYOR’S OFFICE
The Mayor’s Office supports the elected chief executive and ceremonial head of the City pursuant to the City Charter. The office is comprised of support staff and constituent services that keep the Mayor in touch with residents of Albuquerque and their concerns. The Mayor provides the leadership and direction to execute policies and those legislated by the City Council to provide municipal goods, services, facilities, and infrastructure required of a modern city. The approved FY/26 General Fund budget for the Mayor’s Office is $1.1 million, a decrease of 15.6% or $195 thousand from the FY/25 original budget. The Mayor’s office employs a total of 5 FTEs approved for FY/26.
MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT
The Department of Municipal Development (DMD) operates and maintains City streets, storm drains, traffic signals, street lighting, parking operations, and the development and design of capital public buildings. The FY/26 approved General Fund budget totals $37.6 million, a decrease of $57,000, or 0.2%, below the FY/25 original budget. The FY/26 Gasoline Tax Road Fund proposed budget is $5.4 million, a decrease of 23.5% or $1.7 million from FY/25. The FY/26 Automated Speed Enforcement Fund proposed budget is $2.8 million, an increase of 11.4% or $285 thousand from the FY/25 original budget. The Parking Enterprise FY/26 proposed budget of $5.9 million reflects an increase of 4.6%, or $263 thousand, from the FY/25 original budget. Parking Facilities funds 49 full-time positions. The F/Y 26 approved budget for the Department of Municipal Development includes funding for a total of 337 full time employees (FTE) which is one less than the F/Y 2025 budget of 338.
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
The Office of the City Clerk maintains official records for the City of Albuquerque, administers the public financing program for municipal elections, accepts bids from the general public, as well as accepts service of process for summons, subpoenas and tort claims on behalf of the City of Albuquerque. The City Clerk is the chief records custodian for the City of Albuquerque and processes requests for public records pursuant to the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA). The Office of the City Clerk also manages the Office of Administrative Hearings and is responsible for conducting all hearings specifically assigned by City of Albuquerque ordinance, including animal appeals, handicap parking and personnel matters. The Office of the City Clerk is responsible for the preservation, maintenance and provision of public records. The Office also prepares and administers the City’s Municipal elections public financing program. The approved FY/26 General Fund budget is $5.2 million, a decrease of 12%, or $702 thousand, below the FY/25 original budget. A total of 38 FTEs have been approved for the department.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
The Office of Inspector General is an independent office of City Government and does not report to the City’s executive branch nor the City Council. The Office of Inspector General reports directly to the Accountability in Government Oversight Committee, which provides oversight to the Office of Inspector General and reviews and approves all investigatory reports. The mission of the department is to provide independent and objective insight, oversight, and foresight in promoting integrity, efficiency, overall effectiveness, accountability, and transparency in government to safeguard and preserve the public trust. The approve FY/26 budget for the Office of Inspector General is $899 thousand, an increase of $86 thousand from the FY/25 original budget. A total of 9 FTE’s have been approved for the department.
OFFICE OF INTERNAL AUDIT
The Office of Internal Audit is an independent and nonpartisan office of City Government. The office is not part of the City’s executive branch or the City Council and strictly adheres to government auditing standards while exercising the highest standards of ethics. The Office of Internal Audit reports directly to the Accountability in Government Oversight Committee, which is comprised of five community members at large, who are responsible for reviewing and approving all audit reports. The goals of the department are to: Ø Provide independent and objective value-added audits, reviews, and advisory services. Ø Proactively identify risks, evaluate controls, and make recommendations that will strengthen City operations. The approved FY/26 proposed budget for the Office of Internal Audit totals $1.1 million, a decrease of $55 thousand, or 4.8%, from the original FY/25 budget. The department employees 8 FTEs.
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
The Parks and Recreation Department serves the recreational needs of Albuquerque and the surrounding metropolitan area. The department is organized into the following divisions: park management, recreation, aquatics, open space, golf, design & development, construction, and administration. The FY/26 approved General Fund budget for the Parks and Recreaton Department is $50.2 million, an increase of 1.2%, or $616 thousand from the FY/25 original budget. The F/Y 26 approved budget for the Parks and Recreation Department includes funding for a total of 343 full time employees (FTEs) which is two less than the F/Y 2025 budget of 345.
PLANNING DEPARTMEMT
The Planning Department enforces zoning, building, and land use codes and regulations so buildings and neighborhoods are safe and protected. It also creates and deploys development plans and strategies to ensure that growth conforms to adopted plans, policies and regulations. The Planning Department’s MISSION is to facilitate and manage the sustainable growth of Albuquerque. It enforces regulations to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the public. The approved FY/26 General Fund budget for the Planning Department is $23.6 million, a $1.3 million or 6% increase over the FY/25 original budget. The F/Y 26 proposed budget for the Planning Department includes funding for a total of 198 full time employees (FTEs) which is two less than the F/Y 2025 budget of 200 FTEs.
POLICE DEPARTMENT (APD)
The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) continues to be the largest funded department budget and it is about a fifth of the total. The FY/26 approved General Fund budget for APD is $275 million, representing an increase of 1.8% or $4.8 million above the FY/25 approved budget.
The F/Y 26 approve budget includes funding for a total of 1,887 full time employees (FTEs), which includes citizen employees, which is an increase of 47 FTEs over last years 1,840 FTEs. According to the F/Y 26 proposed budget, APD has 900 sworn police (mid year 2025) and APD is requesting funding for 1,100 sworn police or 200 more than they are likely to fill.
In 2023 APD had 877 sworn police and in 2024 APD had 872 sworn police. In the last seven years APD has been unable to keep up with retirements and it has never exceeded 1,000 full time sworn police officers.
APD has consistently asked for full funding for as many as 100 sworn police positions that go unfilled because APD is unable to keep up with retirements. Rather than allowing the funding for the vacant positions to revert back to the general fund, APD management applies the funding to other APD priorities including bonus and retention funding and APD programs.
SENIOR AFFAIRS
The Department of Senior Affairs offers a broad range of programs and services responsive to the needs of senior citizens in Albuquerque/Bernalillo County. The department provides services through three program strategies. The department maintains six senior centers, two multigenerational centers, two stand-alone fitness centers and 23 meal sites where seniors may gather for organized activities, socializing and services.The FY/26 approved budget for the Department of Senior Affairs is $11.5 million, which reflects an increase of 4.1% or $450 thousand above the FY/25 original budget. The F/Y 26 approved budget for the Department of Senior Affairs includes funding for a total of 151 full time employees (FTEs) which is 5 more than the F/Y 2025 budget of 146 FTEs.
SOLID WASTE
The Solid Waste Management Department provides residential and commercial trash collection, disposal, and the collection of residential recycling. The department oversees large-item disposal, graffiti removal, weed and litter abatement, median maintenance, convenience centers, and neighborhood cleanup support. Other services include operating the City landfill in compliance with State and Federal regulations and educating the public about recycling and responsible waste disposal. The FY/26 approved operating budget for the Solid Waste Management Department totals $92.1 million, a decrease of $4.5 million, or 4.6%, from the FY/25 original budget. The reduction is largely due to the decrease in transfers out to debt service fund and to the capital fund. The F/Y 26 approved budget for the Solid Waste Management Department includes funding for a total of 542 full time employees (FTEs) which is identical to the F/Y 2025 budget.
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
The Department of Technology and Innovation provides technology services and resources to support City departments, employees, and community members with innovative engagement (online, 311, WiFi), applications, communication (voice, data, and radio), and infrastructure capabilities. The approved FY/26 General Fund budget is $18.3 million, a 2.3% increase from the original FY/25 budget of $17.9 million. A total of 146 FTE’s have been approved for the department.
TRANSIT
The Transit Department provides fixed route (ABQ Ride) and rapid transit (ART) bus service for the Albuquerque community and Para-Transit (SunVan) service for the mobility impaired population. The department provides connection routes with the New Mexico Rail Runner commuter train throughout the City, to the airport, and to the City of Rio Rancho. Additional services, such as special events park and ride that might include the New Mexico State Fair and luminaria tours, are also made available in an effort to offer a broad range of alternative transportation services. The approved FY/26 General Fund budget for the Transit Department is $30.1 million and decreased by $17 thousand from the FY/25 original budget. All the subsidy funding is recurring. The F/Y 26 proposed budget for the Transit Department includes funding for a total of 540 full time employees (FTEs) which is 11 less than the F/Y 2025 budget of 551 FTEs
YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
The Youth and Family Services Department (YFS) provides a variety of programs focused on early childhood education, out-of-school time opportunities, community recreation, and support for seniors to promote aging with dignity and independence. The Department operates nearly two dozen community centers, offering public access to gymnasiums, meeting rooms, kitchens, multipurpose activity rooms, computer labs, weight/fitness rooms, athletic fields, and multipurpose courts. YFS also manages 18 child and family development centers in a collaborative effort of Federal, State, and City funding to provide quality early learning opportunities for children from birth to 5 years old. MISSION To provide quality early learning, education, youth services, and recreation to promote healthy aging and improved quality of life for the entire Albuquerque community. The approved FY/26 General Fund budget totals $25.8 million, a decrease of $1.2 million, or 4.3%, from the FY/25 original budget. The F/Y 26 approved budget includes funding for a total of 255 full time employees (FTEs) which is 3 less than the F/Y 2025 budget of 558 FTEs.
