[{"_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",6249197,"mediaKeyId","3207516-62f0d8687e58ac60ba3359e153807288","parentId",3207516,"title","Councilors press for clearer budget book language; staff says proposed text will be corrected in the final document","audioSeconds",367,"startMs",980000,"endMs",1347000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3207516-62f0d8687e58ac60ba3359e153807288&start=980&end=1347","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3207516-62f0d8687e58ac60ba3359e153807288/thumbnail_980000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6249197/Santa-Fe/Santa-Fe-County/New-Mexico/Councilors-press-for-clearer-budget-book-language-staff-says-proposed-text-will-be-corrected-in-the-final-document","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6249197-2ffc11d93dc714c67fa12a129045005c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148318&Signature=KlKN-HttJ8CG7rfAff1ouelVGdmD5nrkXlfe8s07QvACT1DXzmyNwTRQKketc5FRcxtP6U1YOyuNXjyO0GlT72Jxs0kARex7TRV98qNF5fclNsEKmFn3LDxk5HE48-HExZ8BeYy3jYA~JjCCbdvKCLl~iJeSPUKM9Ks3GQCRfUHXFGkwYQ7SR9JxgTN2PZ0bW6yxUNnXSTw5Y6Y11XyXHxZKyBdIRBrth6zcoyhYOJHWeEIqQv5nFwebiCO-rxaHegmJRsdAkkyulM-F8Rz1tpJJo9FWZro5aR1L1BbpdhEZIeLbpo6Wj92d3teOvijb6MWZt3oayaqytnjCJ8OhFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Santa Fe, NM","date","2025-05-07T06:56:49.25Z","article","Councilors on Santa Fe’s Finance Committee pressed staff Monday to correct narrative language in the proposed FY26 budget book that they said could mislead readers about how certain contract and contingency funds are intended to be used.

Councilor Cassett identified two line items in the proposed budget book — $60,000 shown as “development and disposition of Midtown property” and $48,500 shown as a “city strategic plan” — and said the items are carryovers that should instead be labeled as contingency or generic contract funds. City Manager Mark Scott and budget staff agreed to relabel the two line items together as $108,500 available for contracts or contingency in the city manager’s office.

Councilor Cassett also asked that the narrative reflecting a past allocation for a local “green bank” be revised to show the money is being reallocated to parks; the mayor told the committee staff are preparing an amendment to move roughly $525,000 from that earlier green‑bank line into Parks for improved maintenance and upkeep.

Assistant Finance Director Alexis Letero explained that the document before the committee is a “proposed budget book” that will become the final adopted budget book only after the governing body approves the resolution. She said detailed contract descriptions are not typically titled at the level of every contract but that staff can update the city manager’s office entries to label the two carryover items as contingency and correct the language in the final book.

Budget staff and the city manager also explained that the city’s formal reporting to the state Department of Finance and Administration is submitted through DFA’s reporting format (LGBMS) and that the resolution — not the narrative book — is the legal instrument the city sends to the state. The committee agreed staff could fix the budget book narrative before it appears as the final adopted document and that the committee would note those changes at the governing‑body hearing to ensure transparency for councilors who are not on the finance committee.

Councilors asked for clarity about revenue from the city’s 10¢ bag tax. Director Oster said bag‑tax revenue is credited to Environmental Services and funds sustainability programs; staff said detailed use of those receipts should be confirmed with Public Utilities if councilors want a program‑level accounting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget Meeting 5/6","oneSentenceSummary","Councilors raised concerns that the proposed FY26 budget book narrative mislabels contingency funds and could mislead the public; staff said the book is a proposed narrative and will be corrected in the final adopted version and that the resolution is the legal adoption instrument submitted to DFA.","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},6249201,"Finance committee delays final budget vote as mayor readies amendment to move ‘green bank’ funds to parks and formalize election funding",3593,156000,3749000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3207516-62f0d8687e58ac60ba3359e153807288&start=156&end=3749","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3207516-62f0d8687e58ac60ba3359e153807288/thumbnail_156000.jpg","/articles/6249201/Santa-Fe/Santa-Fe-County/New-Mexico/Finance-committee-delays-final-budget-vote-as-mayor-readies-amendment-to-move-green-bank-funds-to-parks-and-formalize-election-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6249201-13e62428def5395a197707bb3ddf9a2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148318&Signature=biUNV88wyMdUiaix5Add8cARiNX-TDmb8SLCOxnfJGD~OP64dn4lIln10hmUEuMWIpZePE3yfDeRp0W2y7RFUUeCnUOePBgdpMPd0rpgAQgQEFE6gKpGeB71gXDzMTtMWcKGUefyV-gzSd193e-nqU0RKARzV81PQT2yu3ssET6wRqsAXduG7wV3GYy3KN8qerV988anqiEe~LdIy5V3brTq9yor0Zh0t~HH7CT-g7xTxabnn4c1B7Os-jZcjcdfZHqrGZlLX645FKpS3fSI5xEXiObUZKKaohEvZ4WXeyIH34cI3dk2P6UjrWjtGvJs1cvXGcseOORobxpwEkiiZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Fe Finance Committee on Monday postponed its final committee vote on the FY26 budget after the mayor said an amendment is being drafted to reallocate roughly $525,000 from a line historically identified as the “green bank” to the Parks Department and to formally include $600,000 set aside for publicly financed elections.

The change was announced during the committee’s final hearing when Chair Romero Worth opened floor discussion and invited the mayor to describe the amendment. The mayor said staff work to produce the amendment was interrupted by a storm and was not ready for the meeting; he asked that the committee defer final action until the amendment is complete.

The mayor said the amount identified for the green bank was “about $525,000” and that the funds were originally set aside when the city considered a municipal green bank earlier, before a statewide program was created and those dollars were used for efforts such as Solarize Santa Fe. He said the draft amendment would recall that one-time money and reallocate it to Parks for improved maintenance and upkeep, either through added staff or contracting, based on department recommendations. He also said a separate $600,000 that had been set aside for public financing of the upcoming election would be put into the budget so its availability is clear.

Assistant Finance Director Alexis Letero confirmed the green‑bank money consisted of one‑time funds previously transferred into Public Utilities and that the proposal would “recall” those one‑time dollars so they could be used elsewhere.

Committee members said they preferred not to prolong the session; the mayor proposed deferring the vote until the committee’s regular meeting on Monday so staff could finish the amendment. The committee moved to postpone the final vote and recorded a roll call of yes votes from Councilor Cassett, Councilor Lindell, Councilor Faulkner, Councilor Lee Garcia and Chair Romero Worth. The motion to defer passed.

Councilors and staff noted that while the committee is deferring action, any formal change in use of funds will need to appear in the amendment and be voted on when the committee reconvenes. City Manager Mark Scott and budget staff advised that the formal budget document the city submits to the state follows DFA (Department of Finance and Administration) reporting formats and that the resolution — not the narrative budget book — is the legal vehicle that adopts the budget.

The mayor told the committee the amendment is still being finalized and that staff, the city attorney and the budget team need additional time to complete required accounting changes. The committee will take up the resolution and the finished amendment at its next meeting, which the chair identified for Monday, May 12.

The postponement leaves the governing body able to consider the resolution at its next scheduled meeting after the finance committee provides its recommendation.","The Santa Fe Finance Committee postponed its final committee vote until Monday after the mayor said an amendment is being drafted to reallocate roughly $525,000 from a previously designated “green bank” line to park maintenance and to formally include $600,000 set aside for publicly financed elections in the budget.","actionData","errors"]

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Councilors press for clearer budget book language; staff says proposed text will be corrected in the final document

Finance committee delays final budget vote as mayor readies amendment to move ‘green bank’ funds to parks and formalize election funding