Mayor Keller Signs 2022 Recovery Budget and Albuquerque Rescue Plan, Authorizing $1.26 Billion in Operating and Stimulus Funding

June 1, 2021

Today, Mayor Tim Keller signed the $1.2 billion FY22 Operating Budget, fully funding top city priorities without raising taxes, and the Albuquerque Rescue Plan which allocates an additional $59.8 million in the first phase of federal recovery funding. Mayor Keller was joined by City Council President Cynthia Borrego and Committee of the Whole Chair, Councilor Klarissa Peña.

“Through our operating budget and the Albuquerque Rescue Plan, we are focused on addressing fundamental priorities, making Albuquerque a safer, healthier, and more resilient city,” said Mayor Keller. “With this legislation signed today, we aim to take full advantage of the opportunity to rebound from the pandemic, address crime from all sides, provide direct relief to local businesses, create good jobs while building the city’s infrastructure, and make the largest investment in public health and solutions for the unhoused the city has ever seen. I want to thank City Council for their hard work with our administration, crafting legislation that is laser focused on Albuquerque’s priorities.”

Public safety, economic development, and support for the city’s public health programs and safety net have long been priorities for the Keller Administration and were identified for strategic investments from the start of the budget process and recovery planning.

Key investments include the following:

Boosting Public Safety

• Public safety is a top priority of the Keller Administration and accounts for over 45% of the City’s General Fund budget.
• Resources to address spikes in key areas, including investments in domestic violence resources, to address gun violence, and expand the homicide unit.
• Long overdue investments in key technologies for modern crime fighting, such as gunshot detection technology, a new first-responder radio system, and vehicles. (in ARP and budget)
• $7.7 million recurring funding ($4.4 million increase) for the newly-established Albuquerque Community Safety Department.
• Funding the office of the Interim Superintendent of Police Reform and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Sylvester Stanley, giving APD the independence and focus to address DOJ compliance.
• $1 million for new lighting downtown, making the area safer and inviting as businesses reopen. (ARP)
• Funding Albuquerque Fire Rescue to increase outreach to the community, provide additional resources to tactical EMS teams, and increase support for Office of Emergency Management operations.
• Fully funding nuisance abatement and boosting security at City parks to make neighborhoods safer.
• $1 million for violence intervention programs.
• Fully funding service contracts for mental health, substance abuse, early intervention and prevention programs, domestic violence shelters, sexual assault services, health and social service centers, and services for abused, neglected, and abandoned youth.

Reinvigorating the Economy

• $8 million in direct grants to businesses. (ARP)
• $6 million investment in the Local Economic Development Act fund, which has helped the City retain and attract businesses like Netflix, NBC Universal, Los Poblanos, and Build With Robots. ($3 million Budget, $3 million ARP)
• $2 million investment to improve tourism, including with beautification and placemaking projects, and help it rebound quickly (ARP)
• $3 million investment in the Metropolitan Redevelopment Fund supporting economic development. (ARP)
• $350,000 to support the City’s hosting of the USA Cycling National Championships, which will mark the return of national sporting events and build on Albuquerque’s success with the Senior Olympics.
• Full recurring funding for the Small Business Office, which has provided technical assistance to help local businesses access COVID-19 relief programs, navigate permitting processes, and connect to resources for starting up and scaling up.
• Investments to help businesses reopen and events come online again, including online ticketing systems.
• Increasing permitting staff in the Planning Department to ensure that major new projects like Netflix and Orion can meet their construction and development schedules.
• Full funding for the BankOn Albuquerque program, a partnership with financial institutions and the FDIC to help residents get banked and avoid costly payday loan and check cashing services.

Historic Investments in Public Health, Housing, and City Safety Net

• $4 million in recurring funding and $2 million in one-time funding for supportive housing programs in the City’s Housing First model.
• $4.7 million net to operate the City’s first Gateway Center at the Gibson Medical Facility, that includes expenses for facility and program operations.
• $3.3 million in Home Rehabilitation Assistance. (ARP)
• $24 million in Emergency Rental Assistance from the federal government, which is available in partnership with the State.
• $750,000 to fund Albuquerque Street Connect, a highly effective program that focuses on people experiencing homelessness who use the most emergency services and care, to establish ongoing relationships that result in permanent supportive housing. ($500,000 in budget, $250,000 in ARP)
• $214,000 to adequately staff the senior meal home delivery program, which provided nearly 800,000 meals to seniors since the pandemic started.
• Expanding the public health division of the Family and Community Services Department.

Pushing Sustainability Throughout the City

• Expansion of sustainability efforts housed in the Environmental Health Department, which includes overseeing those continued capital investments.
• Continue our progress towards achieving the goals set out in the American Climate Cities Challenge, including projects that will contribute to an estimated total of 40 million metric tons of carbon emissions reductions. (In the budget and ARP)
• Investing over $600,000 to fund the next phase of the urban forestry initiative, to care for the existing urban forest, plant thousands of new trees and contributing to carbon-neutrality.

Workforce Support Through Youth Programs

• Fully funding general fund support for the Head Start program, including additional funding to maintain COVID-safe student-teacher ratios.
• Investing in continued Youth Connect system of youth programs before and after school and during the summer to keep youth safe and engaged.
• Building out programming at Balloon Fiesta Park.

Helping our Workforce with Reasonable Cost of Living Adjustments

• City of Albuquerque employees did not receive a cost of living adjustment last year, and frontline workers who were part of the COVID-19 response did not receive any hazard pay. In recognition of their hard work and continued increases in cost of living and healthcare premiums, the budget provides a 3% cost of living adjustment this year, subject to bargaining units’ negotiations and additionally ARP contains $3 million for one-time premium pay for essential employees.