Albuquerque voters pass charters for safety chief, arts funding

Albuquerque voters approved three ballot measures on Tuesday that change how the city funds public safety and manages large cultural projects.

The first measure, Charter Amendment P-26-1, elevates the leadership status of the Albuquerque Community Safety Department. It requires the mayor to appoint the department head as the "ACS Chief" with the advice and consent of the City Council. This mirrors the appointment process for the Police and Fire Chiefs. The amendment also mandates a formal employment agreement for the chief, which expires at the end of the mayor's term. Before this change, the ACS director oversaw frontline personnel and operational policies without the same formalized oversight applied to the Police and Fire departments.

The second measure, Resolution R-26-29, reallocates the city's existing 0.25% Public Safety Gross Receipts Tax without raising the rate. It directs 8% of the revenue to the Albuquerque Community Safety Department and 5% to Code Enforcement. The remaining funds are distributed as 38% to the Fire Department, 35% to the Police Department, 8% to Health, Housing and Homelessness, and 6% to Prisoner Transport. Previously, both Code Enforcement and ACS were excluded from these public safety allocations. District 2 Councilor Joaquín Baca stated that the department handles frontline responses to behavioral health crises and homelessness. He said, "By elevating the director to a Chief-level position requiring Council confirmation, we are ensuring that this vital department operates with the highest levels of transparency and that its leadership is directly accountable to the public."

The third measure, Charter Amendment P-25-8, repeals Article XI, Section 7 of the City Charter. This section previously prohibited the city from appropriating funds for a performing arts center costing more than $10 million without a direct public vote. District 6 Councilor Nichole Rogers described the removal of this requirement as a win for the arts and economic development. She noted, "We now have the flexibility to make timely, visionary investments in our cultural infrastructure without being hindered by an outdated charter provision."

The measures were sponsored by Councilors Baca and Rogers. The ACS amendment formally recognizes the department as a co-equal branch of the coordinated emergency response system. The performing arts amendment allows the City Council and administration to pursue major venues through the standard municipal budgeting process. Both councilors said the votes reflect support for a comprehensive approach to community safety and cultural growth.