Senate committee advances bill to raise AMAFCA debt limit to $120 million

Senate Bill 100, which would raise the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority(AMAFCA) statutory debt limit from $80 million to $120 million, won an 8-0 committee recommendation with one senator excused.

The bill, introduced by Senator Woods, seeks to update AMAFCA to reflect rising costs and inflation and to preserve the authority's ability to fund flood-control projects.

AMAFCA Executive Director Kevin Trautman told the committee the measure does not create new taxes or change millage rates; it raises the authority's statutory borrowing ceiling so the agency can structure debt to respond to inflation and longer project schedules. "The debt will still need to be approved by the voters every 2 years and it does not remove any of the other guardrails such as the cap on the total time frame of indebtedness, which is at 40 years," Trautman said.

Senator Woods noted AMAFCA was created in 1963 to protect life and property in greater Albuquerque and that the current $80 million limit, last adjusted in 2007, no longer reflects project costs. "This is important for anybody living in Bernalillo County, but particularly for my district, where there are a high number of homes in the flood plain," she said.

The bill moved out of committee on a motion for a "due pass". The roll call recorded eight "yes" votes and one excused member. The committee recorded no public opposition during the hearing.

If enacted, the statute would raise AMAFCA's authorized debt ceiling to $120 million; Trautman said the authority has not increased its millage rate for debt repayment in 25 years. The bill text and further fiscal details were not discussed in depth at the hearing.

The measure now proceeds toward further floor action per the Senate calendar.