Keller Administration Infrastructure Investments Focused on COVID-19 Recovery Receive Broad Council Support

March 15, 2021

The City Council approved Mayor Tim Keller’s 2021 General Obligation (G.O.) Bond Package, sent to the City Council for consideration in January. The set of investments in the COVID-19 pandemic recovery, public safety, homelessness, repaving roads and easing traffic, and other priorities now heads to voters this fall. The bond package total $140 million in local investment, and will not raise taxes. Mayor Keller and Committee of the Whole Chair Klarissa Pena released the following statements:

“We’re moving from pandemic survival to recovery. Without raising taxes, these investments prioritize making post-COVID Albuquerque a place where hard-working families can get ahead and kids can grow up safely and have opportunities right here at home. We’re especially grateful for the cooperation to bring the total in the Workforce Housing Trust Fund to more than $17 million for affordable housing,” said Mayor Keller.

Committee of the Whole Chair and District 3 City Councilor Klarissa Pena said, “These investments in our community look through a collective lens to build equity into the very infrastructure of our city. We worked together with Mayor Keller and the rest of the Council to put together a package of bonds that focuses on our top priorities and addresses the impact communities of color have faced during the pandemic.”

General obligation bonds fund a host of capital improvements that directly affect the basic needs and quality of life of every Albuquerque resident. These improvements include critical police and fire facilities, vehicles and equipment; basic street and storm drainage improvements; public transportation improvements; medians, parks, recreational and open space facilities; cultural institutions, including the libraries and museums; senior and community centers; all these capital facilities and more are funded primarily by general obligation bonds.

Voters will have an opportunity to approve these citywide investments at the November 2021 election. Voting yes on these bonds will not raise taxes.