Albuquerque voters pass three measures changing city leadership and tax use

Albuquerque residents approved three ballot measures on Tuesday that will alter the city's public safety structure, how tax dollars are allocated, and a long-standing restriction on arts funding. Unofficial results show strong support for all three questions, which were placed on the ballot by the City Council earlier in the year.

The first measure elevates the head of the Albuquerque Community Safety department to the rank of chief. This change aligns the agency with the Albuquerque Police Department and Albuquerque Fire Rescue. Jodie Esquibel, the current department director, will need to be appointed by Mayor Tim Keller and confirmed by the City Council under the new rules. Unofficial tallies indicate 70% of voters supported the amendment. City spokesperson Rebecca Atkins said the move places ACS on equal footing with other emergency services. Esquibel stated in a Wednesday release that being named in the City Charter is an honor for responders who serve neighbors daily.

The second measure redistributes revenue from the existing public safety tax without raising the tax rate. Voters approved this change with 72% support. Last year, the tax generated $58 million. Previously, funds were split among police, fire and emergency response, corrections, and a broad crime prevention and intervention category. The new structure breaks that final category into three distinct allocations. ACS will receive 8% of the budget, the Health, Housing and Homelessness Department will receive 5%, and Code Enforcement will receive 5%. The Albuquerque Police Department share increases from 34% to 35%, while Albuquerque Fire Rescue increases from 34% to 38%. This new distribution takes effect on July 1, the start of the next fiscal year.

The third measure repeals a 1990s provision that required a public vote before the City Council could appropriate more than $10 million for a performing arts center. This rule originated during an effort to control city spending after controversy over a quality-of-life tax. While other parts of that legislation were removed over time, the arts funding restriction remained. On Tuesday, 57% of voters chose to repeal it. Councilor Joaquín Baca, who originally sponsored the legislation, said the repeal gives the council and administration flexibility to pursue major venues through standard budgeting processes. Councilor Nichole Rogers called the result a massive win for arts and economic development.

The charter amendment regarding the public safety chief takes effect on Jan. 1. Mayor Keller must appoint a candidate and present them for council confirmation by mid-February. When the measures were first approved for the ballot in early April, six councilors voted in favor, while Councilors Dan Champine and Renée Grout voted against. Grout declined to comment on the Tuesday results, and Champine was not immediately reachable on Thursday.