By Rodd Cayton
Mayor Tim Keller’s proposed budget returns to a recurring theme: Albuquerque needs to have more police officers on the streets.
The $1.9 billion spending plan goes before a City Council committee Thursday, as the annual budget process starts its final stretch.
More money in the proposed budget — almost $287 million — is earmarked for the Albuquerque Police Department than any other city department.
The budget reflects an administration goal of employing 1,100 sworn APD officers. As of January, according to the budget, the department had 900 officers and 56 cadet graduates.
The APD ended the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years with 877 and 872 officers, respectively.
Keller also proposed funding for 1,100 officers last year, a number which department leaders called unrealistic, but was ultimately supported by councilors.
Department operational goals for next year include clearing 60% of crimes against people, responding to the most important calls within 10 minutes at least 85% of the time, conducting 200 traffic enforcement operations and having officers participate in 1,500 community engagement activities.
The administration is expecting 400,000 911 calls and a total of 550,000 calls for service next fiscal year, according to data published in the budget.
The budget proposes to raise the total number of police department employees, which includes staff other than sworn officers, to 1,887, up from 1,840 in the fiscal 2025 budget and the January total of 1,881.
Other line items for the police department include $25,000 for youth programs and outreach and $50,000 for a student loan forgiveness program.
Keller has proposed $23.29 million for Albuquerque Community Safety, which augments APD efforts by responding to service calls that don’t require armed law enforcement officers. The ACS workforce would increase by nine to 140. If the budget stands, that’s about $4 million more than ACS is getting this fiscal year.
Additionally, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has agreed to deploy 60 to 70 National Guard troops to assist APD in non-law enforcement roles.
Albuquerque Fire Rescue increase
Albuquerque Fire Rescue would receive $139.5 million, an increase of $12.5 million from the previous budget, under Keller’s proposal. That’s the largest of any city department, in terms of either dollars or as a percentage.
The fire department headcount would increase by six to 827. The proposed budget includes $1 million related to opening Fire Station No. 23, at 98th Street and Amole Mesa Avenue in Southwest Albuquerque.
Fire department goals include having the first engine respond to a structure fire within 5 minutes, 20 seconds at least 85% of the time, 218 hours of training for each firefighter and inspecting 7,500 buildings.
The proposed budget for the Animal Welfare Department is down by $106,000 to just over $16.5 million, with the employee headcount remaining at 158.
The council’s Committee of the Whole will conduct its first budget meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday to discuss social goals, which include public safety. Those wishing to speak during the public comment period must sign up in advance.
Final approval of the fiscal year 2026 budget is expected in May.