Albuquerque ballot measures should draw voter skepticism

In our continued efforts to educate New Mexicans on the various issues on the ballot this fall, we look here at TWO measures that have been placed on ballots ONLY in the City of Albuquerque.

Question 1 reads as follows:

Shall the Charter of the City of Albuquerque be amended to repeal Article XI, Section 7, which requires voter approval before the City may appropriate more than $10
million for a performing arts center so that future funding of any amount would no longer require a separate vote? [YES/NO]

Analysis: So, it is currently law in Albuquerque that if Council wishes to spend $10 million or more on a performing arts center that they need to go to the voters. Question 1 would repeal that requirement. A “no” vote simply keeps the law in place for a time if/when the city chooses to spend $10 million of our money on a performing arts center. Our view is that voters should ALWAYS have the final say on major capital projects (we never got a vote on the ART buses, for example). This City and State have a long history of spending big on wasteful building projects (Rt. 66 Visitors Center is one local project, ART is another). Why would voters forego the ability to have a final say IF Council plans something?

Question 2 reads as follows:

Shall the Charter of the City of Albuquerque be amended to designate the Director of Albuquerque Community Safety as the “ACS Chief” and require that this position be
appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council, subject to the same confirmation, employment agreement, and removal terms currently applied
to the Police Chief and Fire Chief? [YES/NO]

Analysis: Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) acts as the city’s third branch of first responders alongside the police and fire departments. It provides a civilian, public health-focused response to non-violent, non-medical, and non-criminal calls for service. The total budget for ACS is $19.8 million. RGF is NOT a fan of a third public safety department. We should adequately fund and train the police department and put violent criminals in jail. Giving ACS even greater status is unwise.

Question 3 reads as follows:

Shall the City of Albuquerque amend the Public Safety Gross Receipts Tax to divide funds amongst updated city services? The money would be divided as follows: Police
35%; Fire 38%; Albuquerque Community Safety 8%; Health, Housing, and Homelessness 8%; Prisoner Transport 6%; and Code Enforcement 5%. This would not increase the tax rate. [YES/NO]

Analysis: This is an attempt to divert Public Safety resources away from Police and Fire and instead allocate it to: Albuquerque Community Safety 8%; Health, Housing, and Homelessness 8%; and Code Enforcement 5%.

Our view is that the Public Safety Tax should remain with public safety and not ACS, the homeless, or code enforcement.