BioPark fees may increase under new budget

For The Record: A previous version of this article misstated that the fee increases from last year would be applied this year. The article has been corrected.

A budget proposal by the Mayor’s Office would increase the entrance fees for the Albuquerque BioPark by $1.

The increases come a year after the council approved fee increases for the BioPark, municipal golf courses, and aquatic centers in last year’s budget, even as budget documents raise concerns about revenue for those services.

“It’s really to keep pace with the cost,” Arts and Culture Director Shelle Sanchez said during a City Council meeting on Thursday to discuss the fiscal 2026 budget. “But it’s also a reflection of the fact that we’ve made some major capital investments, all of us, at the BioPark. It’s a very different place than it was eight years ago.”

The proposed fee increase comes as Mayor Tim Keller’s administration and the City Council seek to reconcile the 2025 budget, which funds everything from police to parks. Each year, the city of Albuquerque follows a budget process that begins with the mayor submitting a proposed budget. This proposal is then reviewed and approved by the City Council over several weeks.

Last year’s proposed budget raised golf, pool and zoo fees to generate about $2.5 million. However, this year’s budget notes a concern of “lower consumer demand as the economy cools, and absent any notable population growth,” and said revenue from the services was down 3.7% in February.

“The busier summer season is approaching, which could improve growth,” the budget said. “Nevertheless, these revenues will need to be watched closely.”

The BioPark’s attendance from June 2023 to July 2024 (fiscal year 2024) was 1.1 million, a slight increase from the previous year. So far in fiscal year 2025, from June 2024 to July 2025, budget documents report 568,915 visitors.

Only BioPark visitors from in-state will feel the increase proposed for this year. Whether adults, seniors or children, they would pay $1 more upon entry. Last year, the council approved a fee increase of $5 for out-of-state visitors.

The information was presented to the City Council for review at the Thursday meeting, but no vote was taken. Instead, councilors will have several more weeks to mull over the data before approving or amending the proposed budget.