Mayor Keller Signs 2021 Adjusted COVID Budget

Nov. 8, 2020

Today, Mayor Tim Keller signed the adjusted budget for fiscal year 2021 that was approved by City Council at the end of October. In a year that forced cities nationwide to enact steep budget cuts and employee furloughs or layoffs, Albuquerque was able to keep its workers on the job and provide all major services and programs without interruption by identifying cost saving measures early on in the pandemic.

The budget aims to navigate through Albuquerque’s COVID-19 challenges and prepares the City for more tough times. The budget also makes meaningful investments in youth and families, homelessness initiatives and the administration’s commitment to public safety.

“This budget cycle has been more complicated than any other in our recent history. We moved quickly at the beginning of the pandemic and made tough decisions that led to Albuquerque being prepared to weather this Corona storm, without laying off or furloughing hardworking city employees,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Now, we are putting meaningful funding behind the efforts that have made our city more resilient than others in grappling with COVID-19. These investments are targeted toward keeping small businesses and working families afloat and making Albuquerque safer.”

Key investments in this year’s budget include the following:

Keeping the City’s Safety Net in Place

• $5.5 million to fund programs for our most vulnerable populations.
• More than $10 million in service contracts to address mental health, substance abuse and homelessness issues.
• An additional $4 million in partnership with APS and nonprofits for youth programs to keep kids off the street.

Boosting Public Safety

• Laying the foundation for the newly established Albuquerque Community Safety Department, which will continue to be built out over the next year.
• The Albuquerque Police Department will receive $2.5 million to hire new officers and $5.2 million for continued work to comply with DOJ reforms.
• Albuquerque Fire Rescue and the Office of Emergency Management will be fully funded with a budget of $63.7 million.

Economic Recovery Efforts

• An allocation of $10 million in CARES Act Funding in grant money for local businesses.
• $2.5 million for families excluded by federal stimulus and unemployment programs.
• $5.3 million in promotional funds for tourism and economic development.
• $250,000 to connect residents to social services and resources for critical financial issues caused by COVID-19.