Councilor Bassan Champions "Triple-Benefit" Investment to Overhaul Albuquerque Infrastructure and Workforce

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Albuquerque District 4 City Councilor Brook Bassan is calling for a decisive shift in how the City manages its future. With a final vote set for the City Council meeting on Monday, March 16, Councilor Bassan is spearheading a comprehensive legislative package designed to simultaneously modernize city infrastructure, secure the municipal workforce, and lower the cost of living for residents through strategic fee reductions.

At the heart of the proposal is O-26-16, the Community Enhancement Municipal Gross Receipts Tax co-sponsored by Councilors Brook Bassan and Joaquin Baca (District 2), which creates a sustainable revenue stream of approximately $113 million annually. To ensure this investment reaches every resident, Councilor Bassan has introduced two critical companion measures to provide accountability and immediate action::

1. R-26-13 (The Operational Lockbox): Mandates that 50% of the revenue be reserved for municipal operations. This resolution requires the Administration to submit rigorous implementation plans to the City Council for public approval before funds are spent. These plans must specifically address closing "market alignment gaps" for underpaid City staff, tackling the maintenance backlog for public safety facilities and parks, and implementing a Municipal Fee Reduction Plan to lower costs for residents at city pools, golf courses, museums, the BioPark, and for building permits.
2. O-26-21 (The Infrastructure Engine): Authorizes the issuance of up to $360 million in revenue bonds—secured by the remaining 50% of the tax—to jumpstart large-scale "Community Enhancement" projects. This allows the City to begin the immediate design, construction, and modernization of vital infrastructure rather than waiting years for revenue to accumulate.

“When we underpay the people who keep our city functional, the cost is ultimately paid by the residents through long wait times and closed facilities,” said Councilor Brook Bassan. “By raising wages for our most underpaid employees and authorizing these bonds, we aren't just being fair; we are ensuring that Albuquerque has the modern facilities and the qualified professionals needed to run them. This isn't about giving the administration a blank check—it is about a fiduciary ‘lockbox’ and a roadmap for building a city that can sustain itself for the next generation.”

The Triple-Benefit Framework:

• Pillar 1: Investing in the People Who Keep Albuquerque Running The measure targets "pay compression" and wage misalignment for frontline workers. By moving employees to the minimum of their assigned pay ranges and addressing market gaps identified in the Evergreen Solutions study, the City aims to end the chronic vacancies that delay essential public services.
• Pillar 2: Reducing Barriers Through Fee Reductions The legislation identifies specific "quality of life" areas for fee relief. Residents could see significant cost reductions at Aquatics facilities, Municipal Golf courses, the Albuquerque Museum, the BioPark, and in Development and Permitting services, making city amenities more accessible to families and small businesses.
• Pillar 3: Long-Overdue Maintenance and Generational Projects By leveraging the new tax through O-26-21, the City can immediately fund the construction and rehabilitation of municipal buildings, streets, and parks. This ends the cycle of "deferred maintenance" and ensures that police and fire stations are built and safely maintained, operated, and modernized for decades to come.

“Albuquerque is at a turning point,” Bassan continued. “We can continue watching our libraries and roads age faster than we can fix them, or we can make the deliberate choice to invest in our own future. This measure ensures that our tax dollars stay local, are distributed equitably across every district, and finally provide the high-quality services our residents deserve.”