Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller signed off on the $1.4 billion spending plan on Friday, May 23, saying the budget process, while the hardest he’s worked on since taking office, dedicates extra funds to improve pay equity in government, which he called "the right thing to do."
According to a report by KOB4, the budget includes funding for the Albuquerque Police Department to boost staffing up to approximately $1,000 officers, and millions for the city’s efforts to combat homelessness. Another $17 million was allocated to close the pay equity gap in the city, affecting approximately 900 jobs, the KOB4 story said.
“I will tell you the pay equity issue was the right thing to do, and so I’m proud that we did that as a city – we had to do, we should have done (it) a long time ago," Keller said. "And so we just decided we’re going to rip the Band-Aid off, and we’re going to try and do this right going forward.”
Taxes won't be raised as part of the budget, but some open city positions had to be eliminated, KOB4 reported. Additionally, city employees will receive a 3.5% raise.
"Public safety is a top priority of the administration," and the new budget aims to support law-enforcement goals and "build a comprehensive, community-based approach to preventing and reducing crime," a release on the city website said.
Among the budget's provisions, funding was added for the CNM Academy to expand Albuquerque Police Department's capacity to bring on new recruits and support the Office of the Superintendent, Independent Monitoring Team and External Force Investigation Team so APD "can reach reform goals." The budget also devotes $11.55 million to raises and retention at APD.
For firefighting-related services, the budget allows for 29 more firefighter jobs as well as $1.4 million to send current Albuquerque Fire Rescue (AFR) employees to paramedic school to meet demands, the release said. To improve neighborhoods, there is also funding for nuisance abatement, code enforcement and $500,000 for park rangers to build the safety and cleanliness of city parks.
The budget includes $18.8 million in funding for supportive housing vouchers to address homelessness and $100,000 for emergency housing vouchers for victims of domestic violence; $1.3 million for a medical respite facility and services like emergency shelter; and $750,000 for the first phase of Safe Outdoor Spaces if approved by the City Council.
Furthermore, the budget provides $200,000 for developing other sanctioned encampment programs and $500,000 for the development of technology to enable the city and providers to coordinate services for those facing behavioral health challenges or homelessness.