By Rodd Cayton
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller proposed a $1.5 billion city budget for fiscal year 2026 earlier this month, kicking off the annual budget process in the city.
Now, the city council will start its process, which includes public participation, to finalize a budget before the end of May.
Thursday will be the first opportunity for residents to give their input as the city council prepares to examine and modify Keller’s budget proposal and craft its own version.
In a letter to the council, Keller wrote that the city is “navigating significant uncertainty, attempting to keep up with rising inflation (and) economic disruptions and bracing for federal cuts.”
Keller wrote that the budget reflects priorities such as keeping residents safe, fighting homelessness and expanding behavioral health and addiction treatment resources.
The general fund budget is $870.4 million, an increase of $19.2 million from fiscal year 2025.
Keller says $14.6 million of the new spending is due to employee pay increases and $1 million will be used to open a new fire station.
The letter says the city is seeing results with its crime-fighting strategy and that the budget is built to hold onto that momentum. Among the police department items in the budget are $2.7 million for technology, training and efficiency improvements and $2.1 million to support the retention of veteran police officers.
The Albuquerque Police Department takes the largest portion of the money in the mayor’s budget, almost $287 million.
A head count included in the proposed budget asks for money for 1,100 sworn officers, though the APD has never had that many.
Keller’s budget proposal seeks another $23.3 million for Albuquerque Community Safety, along with $139 million for Albuquerque Fire Rescue, an increase of $12.5 million from the previous budget.
The largest revenue source identified in the spending plan is gross receipts tax revenue, expected to be just over $603 million.
The council’s Committee of the Whole will conduct its first budget meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday to discuss social goals. A week later, a second meeting will cover physical goals. Councilors will hear public comment at each of those meetings.
Those wishing to speak at a City Council or committee meeting must sign up in advance.
There will be no public comment period at a May 15 meeting at which councilors will mark up the budget.
Final approval is expected May 19, though there’s a tentative second meeting scheduled for May 28.