Bernalillo County adopts FY26 budget, adds $250,000 for libraries and initial funding to address firefighter pay gap

Bernalillo County commissioners approved the fiscal year 2026 budget on May 13 and added $250,000 in one‑time funding for the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Library System and a targeted, initial allocation to address pay disparities in the county fire department.

County Manager Cindy Chavez and Deputy County Manager Shirley Reagan presented the budget package to the Board of County Commissioners, saying the final plan balanced limited revenue growth against rising costs. "Budget documents are value documents," County Manager Cindy Chavez said during her presentation, summarizing the administration's approach.

The adopted package included a general fund budget of about $448.3 million and non‑general fund budgets in the range of $305 million, according to Deputy County Manager Shirley Reagan. The county set aside $8.2 million to increase staff pay in FY26, citing a recent compensation study and persistent personnel shortages. The manager warned that overtime costs, contract increases for medical services at the Metropolitan Detention Center and higher insurance expenses tightened the year's finances.

Commissioners amended the introduced budget to add $250,000 to unified library operations. Commissioner Barbara Baca moved the library amendment to reallocate one‑time funds from the county manager's operating budget and directed the county manager to review the existing memorandum of understanding with the unified library system for sustainability and options for recurring support. The amendment passed 4–0.

Public commenters urged the commission to fund libraries and public safety. Theodore Icojai, vice president of Albuquerque Area Firefighters, asked the commission to reflect a commitment to pay parity for Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue: "We humbly ask that your final budget appropriations this year reflect a commitment to give Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue the compensation we have long sought," he said. Angelica Carrillo, president of Local 1536, described staffing shortages at the county youth detention center and said, "We need to take care of the ones that are already here, not paid the same for the more work."

Commissioners also approved an amendment directing the county manager to work with IAFF Local 244 to design and assess a market study and to allocate an initial $1,200,000 for IAFF Local 244 bargaining unit positions, subject to negotiation. The amendment also directed the manager to return by Sept. 30, 2025 with recommendations to improve the county's collective bargaining process, including timeline options and strategies to improve transparency. The amendment passed 4–0 after public and commissioner discussion about timing, legal constraints and the county's role as appropriator.

County officials briefed commissioners that employee health benefit contributions will increase for staff (a 5.7 percent rise for employee contributions was cited) and that PERA employer rates will increase by 0.5 percent in the coming year. Officials also flagged slower revenue growth—roughly 3 percent—federal grant reimbursement delays in some programs, and high vacancy rates in some public safety units, including the county youth detention facility where vacancy rates exceed 30 percent.

The board voted unanimously to adopt the consolidated FY26 motions and budget resolutions, concluding with a 4–0 vote to finalize the budget.

Implementation: County staff said they would proceed with the salary and bargaining priorities within the constraints discussed, return with the manager's recommended changes to collective bargaining and continued monitoring of federal reimbursements and vacancies.