[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6284544,"mediaKeyId","2577890-3636d446fc3bdc16a1fef999ea3c89f4","parentId",2577890,"title","Committee lifts fiscal-year cap on utilities consulting contract to allow remaining work on water and wastewater financing","audioSeconds",994,"startMs",2428000,"endMs",3422000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2577890-3636d446fc3bdc16a1fef999ea3c89f4&start=2428&end=3422","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2577890-3636d446fc3bdc16a1fef999ea3c89f4/thumbnail_2428000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6284544/Santa-Fe/Santa-Fe-County/New-Mexico/Committee-lifts-fiscal-year-cap-on-utilities-consulting-contract-to-allow-remaining-work-on-water-and-wastewater-financing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6284544-ad6445caf003b906aaac2df94202d2a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775631329&Signature=SauHkCT23crnNN~vL2JWwYy749nFahjVqFVd7YqI1d72J~sftCqEV0AANCJGdjowLk43Gd9932H02sjHadV30ZIj84-RhPOPvuJnkTzHQIl3EQfr8XTZ~60Ro2T2hcXStDNRD8EZGQ-EYeAIEcna4qi-J3kFLsf2jtg6f1GdccS-zSv9eZBHwngKNiPk4QkOcWJFSeLHci~BIGm2ZOmZEFFv1Z4p7eBYmrWyEy677tFQTHhaof4AWW~1fNcel5AZ49rLNvB79HisHe8Y412jZSw1W5Tfs6i7bb3MPzHTC2ydkpWPusNze1eln-uoaQr~MfzjKDfMtKGKriH~gY35Pg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Santa Fe, NM","date","2025-03-11T12:12:48Z","article","The Finance Committee on March 10 approved an amendment that removes the fiscal-year spending cap in the professional services contract (item 21-0522) with Financial Consulting Solutions Group Inc (FCS). The change does not increase the contract's total four-year ceiling (roughly $600,000) but allows unspent funds from earlier contract years to be used in the contract's final year so consultants can complete critical rate and financing work for the city's utilities.

Director Dozier and Finance Director Andy Osterholm explained why flexibility is needed: FCS provides annual long-range forecasts and rotating cost-of-service studies for the water, wastewater and environmental services utilities; the group also supports analysis for low-interest loan programs and rating-agency reviews. Osterholm cited two active financings that require consultant analysis: a Clean Water State Revolving Fund opportunity that could finance up to $151 million at very low interest, and a Water Trust Board award administered by the New Mexico Finance Authority worth $17 million (half grant, half loan). The city must demonstrate the ability to repay principal on these low-rate loans, and FCS's analyses are part of that work.

Osterholm said the contract was initially structured with year-by-year caps and that roughly $200,000 remained available under the contract's total cap. He said the consultant expects to need a substantial portion of that remaining balance to complete scope items this fiscal year, including cost-of-service updates and support for rating-agency reviews. The contract expires June 30, 2025; staff said the utilities division will prepare an RFP for future professional services as required by procurement rules.

Councilors asked whether the city would re-procure long-term consulting services; Dozier said procurement rules limit professional-service extensions to four years and the utilities group is preparing a new RFP. Councilor Cassatt and others supported clearing the year-cap amendment so the consultant could carry out the needed work before the contract expires. A roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval.

Vote: Councilor Cassatt, yes; Councilor Lindell, yes; Councilor Faulkner, yes; Councilor Lee Garcia, yes; Chair Ameri Worth, yes. Motion passed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance Committee Meeting 3-10-24","oneSentenceSummary","The Finance Committee approved removing the annual fiscal-year spending cap from the Financial Consulting Solutions (FCS) Group contract so remaining available funds under the four-year agreement can be used for ongoing water and wastewater rate and financing work; the contract itself remains within its total four-year ceiling.","taxTitle","Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico","taxId",2727,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6284549,"Finance Committee approves contract amendment to keep Pallet shelter option available through June 2026",830,1570000,2400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2577890-3636d446fc3bdc16a1fef999ea3c89f4&start=1570&end=2400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2577890-3636d446fc3bdc16a1fef999ea3c89f4/thumbnail_1570000.jpg","/articles/6284549/Santa-Fe/Santa-Fe-County/New-Mexico/Finance-Committee-approves-contract-amendment-to-keep-Pallet-shelter-option-available-through-June-2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6284549-462de2306dea837795377e66e0e9073c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775631329&Signature=DonzWL7Q99dkOPb6EkmvqWJwmUd2lcXofjkcdYro0dDBoBD1NsvwX2sWET-hK3dayODJiU18BmXYzviRq5JQWF3P0vkKtCWf5UAd4czTgsDpam4qJa6NSPXX78DFrm-SPsHcWOdl2HcahApx2VptPfQAPR08YIr45hnNhr6pk76Ao4TMevtZDDW8zoL~lXXM5xAGb2qYT2BtoyhLu03Uk36Ww8wpCkuC4A68AQEZbWlxvFWY2y8caBx6NTZ3uJOV8FOqGUWVAvBT6LEZDASlt614JWjPZceP~FZut8udf8uVvfKEu30cFTp7ImVsDZk1WqlzkSQoygf3wYNcmkgxSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Santa Fe Finance Committee on March 10 voted unanimously to approve Amendment No. 1 to General Services Contract item 203-350 with Pallet PBC. The amendment extends the contract through June 30, 2026 and establishes a revised unit-price schedule so the city may purchase additional Pallet shelter units if it chooses; the vote did not authorize any immediate purchases.

Director Henry Hammond Paul, director of community health and safety, and Julie Sanchez, youth and family services division director, introduced the item and answered committee questions about scope, design changes and pricing. The amendment was described as a mechanism to keep the contract available to purchase more units without reissuing a procurement in a volatile market.

Hammond Paul said the amendment was intended as a contingency: the city locked in a prior purchase under an earlier price, but Pallet later announced a price increase for newer-design units. \"These units were purchased at the older price,\" Hammond Paul said. \"This amendment keeps the contract valid so in the event we decide that the hundred units is great and we want to do another 30, we could do that without having considerable process delays.\"

Staff explained differences between the earlier and newer unit designs: the earlier model was roughly 62–64 square feet; the new unit listed in the amendment is about 70 square feet and includes higher-insulation materials, upgraded interior fixtures, more durable hardware and HVAC component changes. Committee members noted the higher per-unit costs in the new design and questioned whether the city had evaluated alternative suppliers; staff said an ITB issued previously received four responses and Pallet was the lowest-cost respondent at that time.

Councilors emphasized that approving the amendment does not obligate the city to buy more units immediately. Councilor Lee Garcia and others asked when additional purchases would be activated; staff responded the amendment simply preserves the option through the extended term and that deployment decisions would follow additional governing-body engagement and site planning.

A roll-call vote recorded the following: Councilor Cassatt, yes; Councilor Lindell, yes; Councilor Faulkner, yes; Councilor Lee Garcia, yes; Mayor Romero Worth, yes. The motion passed.

The amendment summary in the meeting packet described the requested change as \"amendment number 1 to General Services contract item 203-350 with Pallet PBC to provide shelter units and facilities with safe outdoor space in the total amount of $1,466,100 to adjust for price increases with no change in total compensation and extended term to 06/30/2026.\" Staff clarified during discussion that the amendment preserves purchasing authority at the new prices for the contract term but does not require immediate additional spending.","The committee approved Amendment No. 1 to the general services contract with Pallet PBC, extending the term and preserving a revised price schedule so the city can buy additional shelter units through June 30, 2026; no immediate purchases were authorized.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6284554,"Santa Fe finance staff outline gross receipts tax trends, warn against counting on large windfalls",1365,193000,1558000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2577890-3636d446fc3bdc16a1fef999ea3c89f4&start=193&end=1558","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2577890-3636d446fc3bdc16a1fef999ea3c89f4/thumbnail_193000.jpg","/articles/6284554/Santa-Fe/Santa-Fe-County/New-Mexico/Santa-Fe-finance-staff-outline-gross-receipts-tax-trends-warn-against-counting-on-large-windfalls","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6284554-8d23ff0db38ea5037f78bc01442eafe5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775631329&Signature=ovX~eFMXS7b96E6w5bp3zgThV6WqOMWoFAJfEj1caDgCx3tE8P9D2GrZWiV8XhWJwu74UQJKBZRWHjzrN1pe2O4s9CyaGaPCUnAyULvj90JX-DO~5OFHRS8wteSCAbsnu2nQJRZBdcdT7V-KAEO~SeiYMlO8hQjQUds4jtRWK8Vh3AisWA1j5b563x-cFk44RtLK4KujLmqha2mTizrRPphKyBMdnuE5kx-sdrz9egM23VqMEBx2WYYXWU~cbAfan08A2LM6v0odju4dNxhpgqHtpHMXgrrFbVWJfiaLsrbbxhHc-OoQoKpPdlM41mj-R9HIO9IIeZapKAulWlEweA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assistant Finance Department Director Alexis Lautaro told the City of Santa Fe Finance Committee on March 10 that gross receipts tax (GRT) remains the city’s main general-fund revenue source and that recent spikes driven by remote-sales tax changes and tourism may not continue at previous levels.

Lautaro reviewed historical GRT receipts and comparisons with similar New Mexico cities, saying Santa Fe’s total GRT receipts reached about $166.7 million for fiscal 2024, compared with roughly $130.3 million in Las Cruces and about $80 million in Rio Rancho. Lautaro said the biggest year-over-year jump occurred between fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2022 after the full implementation of the Internet/remote sales tax.

The presentation stressed how the city treats “unanticipated” GRT—receipts that exceed the revenue estimate used when the budget was adopted—by using them for one-time expenditures, because budgets are set before those receipts are finalized. Lautaro said the city budgeted $159 million in GRT for the year and collected nearly $167 million, creating some one-time excess, but cautioned the committee that economic signals suggest the surplus may not be sustained.

“We budgeted $159,000,000 in GRT, and what we took in last year was $166,000,000, almost $167,000,000. There may be a little bit of unanticipated GRT, but I’m really concerned that it’s not going to be at the $20,000,000 level where we’ve seen it in the past few years,” Lautaro said.

Committee members and staff discussed causes of Santa Fe’s relatively high GRT collections. Lautaro and others told the committee tourism is the primary driver of higher GRT relative to other cities, and that aggregate receipts are affected by both local spending patterns and statewide allocations (county and city shares). Committee members also asked about the timing of GRT reporting; Lautaro said the city receives GRT figures from the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department with a roughly two-month lag, so March numbers typically are not available until early May.

Finance staff highlighted calendar effects: the city’s larger receipts typically fall in late summer and holiday months, while January–March are lower months; winters with weak ski seasons can also depress receipts. Staff noted the December memo showing collections that “were tracking flat” and that the city had not yet distributed the December memo widely to the public.

Committee members used the presentation to frame upcoming budget discussions, with several stressing the need for caution in committing recurring expenses to a revenue stream that can swing with tourism and national economic conditions. Lautaro and Finance Director Andy Osterholm said GRT remains a strong revenue source but is subject to volatility—property tax is steadier—and that the Internet-sales tax implementation in 2021–22 produced the largest recent increase.

Lautaro and committee members said staff will provide additional budget context at the formal budget hearings and circulate the GRT breakdown slide that shows the components of the city’s 8.1875% combined rate.

The committee did not take formal action during the presentation; the discussion was presented as context ahead of the FY26 budget process.","Assistant Finance Director Alexis Lautaro told the Finance Committee that gross receipts tax (GRT) is the city’s primary general fund revenue and that recent unanticipated increases may be leveling off; officials urged caution about relying on one-time GRT receipts for ongoing spending.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee lifts fiscal-year cap on utilities consulting contract to allow remaining work on water and wastewater financing

Finance Committee approves contract amendment to keep Pallet shelter option available through June 2026

Santa Fe finance staff outline gross receipts tax trends, warn against counting on large windfalls