BREAKING: ABQ Council Passes Operating Budget

City councilors passed a $455 million budget that reduces spending about 1 percent.

Most city employees would face a combination of unpaid holidays and a 1.5 percent wage cut under the spending plan adopted by city councilors tonight (May 24). It’s part of a plan sponsored by councilors Ken Sanchez and Don Harris. Read Full story from the Tuesday Journal.

A few points:

– Employees who make $30,000 or less a year wouldn’t face any cuts, although, like all city employees, they will have to pay more for health insurance.

– Most social service providers will see 5 percent cuts in their contracts. Warehouse 508, which is the Downtown teen center, and a high-school retention program would see steeper cuts. Funding for after-school programs at public charter schools would be cut entirely.

– There are no tax increases or proposals to shift property tax revenue from construction projects to operations.

The proposal was passed 6-3, meaning the council has enough votes to override a mayoral veto. That’s only if all six votes stick, however, which isn’t always the case.

The Berry administration wasn’t overly critical of the proposal. One section they may target for a veto, however, is the proposal advising the mayor how to carry out the pay cuts and unpaid holidays. David Campbell, the CAO, said that’s an executive function, not something the council gets to decide.

I “tweeted” a bit during the meeting, in case anybody’s curious or wants to follow me there.