[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6084208,"mediaKeyId","2920408-7d06e7bd1996a3d038c5d2f5a470bb14","parentId",2920408,"title","Commission approves several administrative budget and development items; votes at a glance","audioSeconds",5107,"startMs",506000,"endMs",5613000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2920408-7d06e7bd1996a3d038c5d2f5a470bb14&start=506&end=5613","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2920408-7d06e7bd1996a3d038c5d2f5a470bb14/thumbnail_506000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6084208/Bernalillo-County/New-Mexico/Commission-approves-several-administrative-budget-and-development-items-votes-at-a-glance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084208-7bf115360d91eb3fcc378fae65d7fff7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775405598&Signature=KcdKJqbXdsvImEvoYU3lcS7ckS9xry6n0c849ilA84ORnWCAzQCFAvX7NPzAqYYcdxwVXLrLR417mhUu5dgoAjh-AjIrSDdoHb7vU0LdgqJlsf8FRmFZ-LAEuoww1-WrSpJ2n1PkdiHUHgZoNmiWwYjxV9kZVdpMMvprqN0oJPXudLyK246Doun6a1tHDpHzsLAvZXU0f6b2Pz9fM8H6fKxQZok8FnezpuGxLO7Jevh69H7YqjbaVP4dO5zTO4Ox8VEdmYKU9XQ6yQZSl3R5QCxFzuVWukD4ojfTM35lqNO316AMnnVMwz1gEUr6khIDydo4NCjPIPuzuIrzIQl2RA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bernalillo County, NM","date","2025-04-09T13:26:21Z","article","Bernalillo County commissioners approved a set of administrative and budget items on April 8, passing each item by a unanimous 5‑0 vote. The actions included an extension of inducement periods for Sawmill District industrial revenue bonds, introduction of the Housing Department’s HUD annual plan, authorization to book EMS transport billing revenues, acceptance of wildland fire reimbursement funds, a $4.5 million Road Fund appropriation for maintenance, and a capital contribution to the Brillante Early Learning Center.

Votes and key details

- Rule suspension to add two items (IRB extension and Housing Department annual plan) to the final adoption calendar: passed 5‑0. The commission voted to suspend rules and consider the items for final adoption on the same evening.

- Sawmill District IRB negotiation extension (items described as AR 2025‑33, AR 2025‑34, AR 2025‑35): the commission approved a 180‑day extension of the negotiation/inducement period for three Sawmill projects (Chaco Residence, mixed‑use apartments at Sawmill, and Sawmill Hotel). Director Marcos Gonzalez described the IRB tool as a tax‑exemption mechanism used to bridge project financing gaps in exchange for job creation, private investment and payments in lieu of taxes. Motion passed 5‑0.

- Housing Department annual plan (item identified by the clerk as AR 2025‑306): Director Amanda Coburn presented the administrative resolution to approve the Bernalillo County Housing Department’s 2025‑26 annual plan required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Coburn said the plan, developed with public input and a March 19 public hearing, must be submitted to HUD by an April 17 deadline. The commission approved the introduction and requested final adoption at the subsequent hearing; motion passed 5‑0.

- EMS transport billing revenues (introduction of financial resolution for FY25): Deputy County Manager Greg Perez said the county bills for transports when Albuquerque Ambulance is at level 0 and that ImageTrend performs billing on the county’s behalf. Perez said ImageTrend bills for collections and that the vendor’s fee is approximately 5% (quoted in the meeting as the staff’s belief). The commission approved the item on a 5‑0 vote.

- Wildland reimbursement deposit and transfer (Fire and Rescue): Acting Fire Chief Greg Perez presented acceptance of $376,011.95 in reimbursements from out‑of‑county wildland responses and a transfer of $8,663.67 to offset meals and lodging incidentals. The commission approved the resolution 5‑0.

- Road Fund appropriation ($4,500,000): Director Antonio Jaramillo presented a budget increase that draws on franchise‑fee revenues and fund balance to support pavement and maintenance projects across county districts and to replace three out‑of‑service lift pumps at Sanchez Farms and Clay Vista. Commissioners and staff said the county will develop an asset‑management portal to show pavement priorities and that franchise fee receipts are expected to continue and may increase as new telecommunications firms enter the market. Motion passed 5‑0.

- Brillante Early Learning Center capital contribution: The commission approved authorizing the county manager to execute an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Albuquerque to provide the county’s capital contribution toward the Brillante Early Learning Center near Explora. Denise Benavides said the funds are bond‑proceeds restricted to capital costs; the facility is expected to open in fall 2026. Motion passed 5‑0.

- Consent agenda and other routine items: The consent agenda was approved 5‑0. A number of non‑controversial administrative matters were handled under that vote.

Items discussed (no vote required)

- Compliance Office biannual report: Chief Compliance Officer Rocky Gutierrez presented the biannual code of conduct and compliance office report. The office reported no sworn code‑of‑conduct complaints in the two quarters covered, multiple non‑code complaints referred to departments, and continued work on training videos and biannual employee code‑of‑conduct training. Housing appeal hearings and other administrative duties were described in the report.

Why this matters: The items approved on April 8 allocate existing revenues, reimbursements and bond proceeds to maintenance, housing administration, public safety and early‑childhood capital investments. Several approvals involve multi‑step processes — for example, HUD submission deadlines and vendor procurement for behavioral health services — that will require follow‑up by county staff.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bernalillo County Commission: Administrative Meeting 4-08-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved multiple administrative and financial items on April 8, including IRB negotiation extensions for Sawmill District projects, recognition of EMS transport revenues, wildland reimbursement deposits, a $4.5 million road‑fund appropriation, and a capital contribution to the Brillante Early Learning Center.","taxTitle","Bernalillo County, New Mexico","taxId",2692,"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},6084214,"County introduces joint opioid‑settlement implementation plan as school counselors urge immediate Crossroads expansion",1741,899000,2640000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2920408-7d06e7bd1996a3d038c5d2f5a470bb14&start=899&end=2640","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2920408-7d06e7bd1996a3d038c5d2f5a470bb14/thumbnail_899000.jpg","/articles/6084214/Bernalillo-County/New-Mexico/County-introduces-joint-opioidsettlement-implementation-plan-as-school-counselors-urge-immediate-Crossroads-expansion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084214-b2674051b8c9d1685ea2dc39b1c4f663/orig.mp4?Expires=1775405598&Signature=IofleJpdZs8UirTMGUJvLxHHhuvg1kpyQ5V3-3Uwod9SzWf4hHbziKtM1ZT1RF9zgJ2fURpRO8HDzB-c4kPo0OT7NYkhYG8BzilZo42Zipe6yocJAY2z8p5g01Eavhr3JrDO6ElsvYtFNee62UyqTMbJlQMEhDbHlhwiDqPH0NaqQoHS7NpTjONuUFQD6D7i6fCcHzftv3Domp05ekyy~S1Pyo~yQkhlbUtmg97gYtY6vShHB0AjafZubIrWPr01h8LkhAgkzNI9eBKRte5zdpYK1ptFWOd2t6odrIWJJKGeU5lVrqXBrxSFgbiygDwVfe-WU50jVdHlFn2NIInAVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bernalillo County commissioners on April 8 introduced a joint city‑county implementation plan for opioid settlement funds and approved it on a 5‑0 vote, while school‑based counselors and students urged immediate use of the funds to expand Crossroads and other early intervention programs in Albuquerque Public Schools.

The plan presented to the Board of County Commissioners was the product of the Local Government Coordinating Council (LGCC), which prioritized eight categories from a larger set of recommendations prepared with technical assistance from Vital Strategies. Wayne Lindstrom, deputy county manager for behavioral health, told commissioners the LGCC’s priorities include connecting disconnected youth, expanding peer‑support services, enlarging recovery housing and community‑based intensive treatment, leveraging the Gateway sobering center, widening naloxone access and harm‑reduction efforts, and expanding mobile crisis response.

The LGCC recommendation emphasized that roughly 40% of settlement funds should be allocated to prevention and community revitalization and 60% to intervention and treatment. Lindstrom described a three‑phase implementation: immediate use of multi‑award vendors to move dollars into the community within six months, a public-facing dashboard to track performance and spending, and capacity‑building grants for small and mid‑sized providers.

The joint plan had been presented to Albuquerque City Council the night before; Lindstrom said the council passed its version and that the city still needs the mayor’s signature. Julie Ron of Vital Strategies commended county and city coordination and emphasized continued community and tribal engagement in implementation.

Public comment at the commission meeting focused heavily on expanding school‑based behavioral health. More than a dozen Crossroads counselors, school‑based therapists and students described how Crossroads interventions changed individual lives and urged commissioners to approve funding for expansion without delay. Kylie Schroeder, director of Crossroads for Albuquerque Public Schools, told the board: \"We just need you to vote tonight and vote yes to help us remove this last barrier to making this expansion of our programs a reality.\" Samantha Ashby, a Crossroads counselor, read a letter from a Sandia High School teacher that described repeated instances in which students in crisis benefited from on‑campus Crossroads support.

Deputy county manager Lindstrom and several commissioners framed the plan as a long‑term, collaborative investment that will be rolled out in phases and monitored with public metrics. Commissioners repeatedly thanked the LGCC, Vital Strategies and community groups for their role in producing the plan and noted this is the introduction hearing; the resolution will return for final adoption at a subsequent meeting as required by the county’s two‑hearing rule.

The commission moved to approve the introduction of the implementation plan and related administrative resolution; the motion passed 5‑0. Commissioners said they expected continued joint work with the city, tribal governments and Albuquerque Public Schools during implementation.

Why this matters: County leaders said the funds represent a rare opportunity to expand prevention and treatment services and to strengthen local provider capacity. Several speakers repeatedly urged that a portion of the settlement dollars be used now to hire school‑based counselors and to create consistent Crossroads presence in elementary and middle schools where early use has been reported.

What happens next: The introduced resolution will return for final adoption at a subsequent commission meeting. Commissioners and staff said they will proceed with the short‑term procurement and vendor steps described in the plan, set up the public dashboard, and coordinate with city counterparts on shared procurement and reporting.

Quotes from the meeting are taken verbatim from the hearing transcript.","Bernalillo County commissioners introduced and unanimously approved an implementation plan for joint city‑county opioid settlement funds. Dozens of Albuquerque Public Schools Crossroads counselors and students urged the commission to move quickly so school‑based behavioral health expansion can begin.","actionData","errors"]

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Commission approves several administrative budget and development items; votes at a glance

County introduces joint opioid‑settlement implementation plan as school counselors urge immediate Crossroads expansion