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Commission budgets $1.57 million in PILT funds for housing development division and economic development dialogue
Summary
The Board approved a financial resolution to budget $1,567,937 from PILT balances for a new housing development division and a countywide economic development community‑dialogue process; the motion passed 3–1.
Bernalillo County commissioners approved a financial resolution on May 13 to budget $1,567,937 from payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes (PILT) balances to support a newly created housing development division and an economic development community‑dialogue process.
Carolyn Tobias, the county's economic development manager, told commissioners the sum reflects returned and unspent PILT funds including a Flagship Foods industrial revenue bond clawback and $251,200 returned from the Albuquerque‑Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority. Tobias said staff proposed allocating roughly $500,000 to economic development projects and community dialogue work and just over $1 million to support the housing development division, including three staff positions and due‑diligence resources.
"Budgeting of these funds today would enable us to move forward with the timeline of executing those particular resolutions," Tobias said, explaining that the county must budget the fund balance to spend on the proposed activities.
Commissioner discussion focused on the size of contingency funds in the economic development allocation and on safeguards for oversight. Several commissioners said they wanted written notifications if staff planned to exceed pre‑identified spending levels; economic development staff said they would inform the board before any significant draw on contingency funds. Commissioner Benson raised concerns about the contingency size for the community dialogue item and proposed reserving some funds; the motion passed on a 3–1 vote.
Tobias said the housing development division will use housing annual fees for sustainability after the initial appropriation and that due‑diligence funds are intended to let the county move quickly on potential property acquisitions by paying for appraisals, environmental assessments and related studies.
The resolution number for the item is FR2025‑49. Commissioners approved the introduction and appropriation by roll call; staff said unused PILT funds would remain in economic development and could be moved to housing due diligence or other projects as directed by the Board.
