What is in the proposed Bernalillo County bond questions?

Bernalillo County likely will add a $40.5 million bond package to November’s ballot for voter approval during Tuesday’s commission meeting, but commissioners have three options for how to allocate the funding within that bond package. Along with vetting a bond package, the commissioners also will consider approving the county’s six-year capital improvement plan.

All three bond package options would include money for public safety facilities, parks and recreation projects and transportation. The commissioners are scheduled to vote on approving the six bond questions during their regular meeting, which would then place the questions in front of voters in November.

Option A would fund projects based on staff recommendations. Option B follows the more typical process for creating a bond package, by taking the initial staff recommendations in Option A and adjusting them based on input from the public and commissioners. The staff-created Option B could be considered a compromise package with some commissioner requests included but amounts reduced.

District 5 Commissioner Eric Olivas wrote the proposal for Option C. He said he was shocked that there are not funds in Option A specifically for District 3 and 5, even though it has quite a few items for all five districts or four of the five districts.

“Even in my proposal, Option C, 25% of the entire bond program goes still to District 2 — one district — so even in my proposal it‘s still not fair and equitable,“ Olivas said.

District 2 is in the southwest portion of the county represented by Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada. It roughly includes Albuquerque south of Central and west of Interstate 25, or in some areas west of Second Street, as well as unincorporated areas, tribal lands and part of Kirtland Air Force Base.

General obligation bonds have to be sold within four years after voters approve them and can only be spent on capital projects — not daily operations or maintenance.

Question 1: Libraries

With Option B, bond question one would be for $2.5 million to acquire library materials and make capital improvements in all five county districts. Library advocates‘ input successfully increased the proposed funding to buy library materials from $1.5 million to $2 million, according to a proposal outline from the county.

Option C would allocate the same amount to libraries but would specify that $500,000 of that funding go toward library renovations in the South Valley, East Mountains and North Valley in Districts 1, 2 and 5.

Question 2: Public safety and facilities

Option B would put $9.6 million toward public safety facilities, the county‘s fleet and buildings. The priciest item of 13 listed projects would be $2 million for an early learning Pre-K facility. Some highlights include $1 million to renovate the Atrium building, which houses Bernalillo County‘s Fire Safety Division offices, $1 million for a courthouse expansion and $1.3 million for sustainability upgrades like solar panel and EV charging stations.

Option C would cut the amount for public safety and county facilities to $8.8 million and trim the list to 11 projects. Option C does not allocate funding for a Sheriff’s Office shooting range and Atrium renovations; increases money for a Fire and Rescue Aerial Tower to $1.4 million; and increases money for BCSO office renovations to $1 million.

Option A includes $11.5 million for five projects, some very broad — $8 million for county facility renovations, $1 million for the courthouse expansion, $1.6 million for climate sustainability upgrades, $500,000 for heavy equipment replacement, and $400,000 for the Brillante Early Learning Center.

Question 3: Parks and recreation

The initial staff recommendation in Option A was for $11 million for 13 parks and recreation projects, the most expensive of which would be $4 million for the Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center.

Option B would be for $12.4 million for 26 parks and recreation projects. The most expensive would be $3.5 million for the the Sanchez Community Center. Three other projects come in over the million dollar mark: $2.5 million to complete phase four of the Mesa Del Sol Regional Recreation Complex; $1.5 million to complete the final phase of Tom Tenorio Park improvements; and $1 million to help design Sandia Ranch, vacant land on Edith NE that the county is considering turning into a neighborhood park and using as the site for a school for the hearing impaired.

Option C would be $11.7 million for 17 projects. It would cut funding for Mesa Del Sol to $1.7 million, the Sanchez Community Center to $2 million, and Tom Tenorio Park to $704,000. It would also increase funding for Sandia Ranch to $1.5 million, Near North Valley Life Center to $1 million, Los Vecinos Community Center to $1.5 million, and urban open space acquisition and development to $1.5 million.

Question 4: Transportation

With Option B, bond question four proposes $10.8 million for 16 transportation projects. Of that total, $9 million would be to match $47.5 million in federal grant funds, including $2 million for phase three of the Bridge Boulevard project, $1.9 million for the Atrisco Vista/Interstate 40 Tradeport and $1 million for Isleta Boulevard.

Option C proposes $10.6 million for 15 projects, cutting $300,000 for countywide traffic operations. Compared to Option B, Option C would also reduce the amount of funding for streetlight installation and the county arterial program, while increasing funding for Tablazon Road from $500,000 to $950,000.

Question 5: Storm drainage and utilities

Option A would be $4.4 million for six storm drainage and utilities projects.

With Option B, bond question five provide $4.4 million for eight projects. The most expensive would be $1.1 million for the storm drain component on phase six of the Alameda Drain Trail.

Option C would increase that funding to $5.1 million with the same eight projects by increasing funding for the city of Albuquerque’s Hahn Arroyo and Trail to $1 million.

Question 6: Public Housing

With Option B, bond question six would put $700,000 toward improvements to Seybold Village and El Centro Housing, affordable housing owned by the county.

Option C would add $1 million for senior affordable housing.