ABQ Mayor Tim Keller’s proposed budget could be trimmed further

The chart below put together by Rio Grande Foundation highlights how Albuquerque’s budgets have grown under Mayor Tim Keller from: $997,720,000 during Keller’s first term to over $1.5 billion in the current 2026 fiscal year. Keller has proposed a modest reduction in spending for FY 2027 which is currently under consideration.

The City population has been stagnant over that time (around $560,000) while, if the budget had increased at the same rate as the Consumer Price Index would be closer to $1.3 billion, not in excess of $1.5 billion. Keller’s latest budget would see a slight drop in spending to $1.47 billion. Keller has said he plans to eliminate 247 positions with the City to cut the $35 million needed due to slower revenue growth.

A chart illustrating the growth in City of Albuquerque spending can be found below.

There is plenty of wasteful at the City starting with the outrageous $10 million/mile bike trail. 

Free buses are another issue. So is out-of-control spending on the homeless which hasn’t made a dent in the problem. The proposed FY27 budget would increase funding by 9.5% to $48.9 million for the city’s Health, Housing and Homelessness Department. Homeless is widely considered to have worsened dramatically under Keller with a doubling in the population. 

The remodel of City Hall is yet another project that has grown overbudget and the book about COVID in Albuquerque while small in amount only highlights the ridiculous spending at the City.