Councilor Lee Garcia praises leadership and budget transparency in city meeting

The Santa Fe City Council held a budget meeting on April 24, 2025, focusing on financial strategies and departmental staffing. Councilor Lee Garcia commended the leadership for their efforts in developing a cohesive team and emphasized the importance of accountability within the administration. He acknowledged the challenges of staffing and the necessity of balancing full-time employees with contracted specialists, particularly in areas requiring specific expertise.

Garcia highlighted the potential for cost savings by evaluating high-value contracts, such as those for police vehicles, suggesting that the city could benefit from directly pricing these items. He stressed the importance of transparency in budget matters, noting that taxpayers deserve clarity on how their money is spent. Concerns were raised about public inquiries regarding infrastructure projects, such as street repaving, and the need for clear communication about budget allocations.

The meeting underscored the council's commitment to responsible financial management and collaboration among departments as they move forward with the budget process. Councilor Garcia expressed appreciation for the hard work of the team and looked forward to continued discussions in the coming days.