Commission approves several administrative budget and development items; votes at a glance

Bernalillo County commissioners approved a set of administrative and budget items on April 8, passing each item by a unanimous 5‑0 vote. The actions included an extension of inducement periods for Sawmill District industrial revenue bonds, introduction of the Housing Department’s HUD annual plan, authorization to book EMS transport billing revenues, acceptance of wildland fire reimbursement funds, a $4.5 million Road Fund appropriation for maintenance, and a capital contribution to the Brillante Early Learning Center.

Votes and key details

- Rule suspension to add two items (IRB extension and Housing Department annual plan) to the final adoption calendar: passed 5‑0. The commission voted to suspend rules and consider the items for final adoption on the same evening.

- Sawmill District IRB negotiation extension (items described as AR 2025‑33, AR 2025‑34, AR 2025‑35): the commission approved a 180‑day extension of the negotiation/inducement period for three Sawmill projects (Chaco Residence, mixed‑use apartments at Sawmill, and Sawmill Hotel). Director Marcos Gonzalez described the IRB tool as a tax‑exemption mechanism used to bridge project financing gaps in exchange for job creation, private investment and payments in lieu of taxes. Motion passed 5‑0.

- Housing Department annual plan (item identified by the clerk as AR 2025‑306): Director Amanda Coburn presented the administrative resolution to approve the Bernalillo County Housing Department’s 2025‑26 annual plan required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Coburn said the plan, developed with public input and a March 19 public hearing, must be submitted to HUD by an April 17 deadline. The commission approved the introduction and requested final adoption at the subsequent hearing; motion passed 5‑0.

- EMS transport billing revenues (introduction of financial resolution for FY25): Deputy County Manager Greg Perez said the county bills for transports when Albuquerque Ambulance is at level 0 and that ImageTrend performs billing on the county’s behalf. Perez said ImageTrend bills for collections and that the vendor’s fee is approximately 5% (quoted in the meeting as the staff’s belief). The commission approved the item on a 5‑0 vote.

- Wildland reimbursement deposit and transfer (Fire and Rescue): Acting Fire Chief Greg Perez presented acceptance of $376,011.95 in reimbursements from out‑of‑county wildland responses and a transfer of $8,663.67 to offset meals and lodging incidentals. The commission approved the resolution 5‑0.

- Road Fund appropriation ($4,500,000): Director Antonio Jaramillo presented a budget increase that draws on franchise‑fee revenues and fund balance to support pavement and maintenance projects across county districts and to replace three out‑of‑service lift pumps at Sanchez Farms and Clay Vista. Commissioners and staff said the county will develop an asset‑management portal to show pavement priorities and that franchise fee receipts are expected to continue and may increase as new telecommunications firms enter the market. Motion passed 5‑0.

- Brillante Early Learning Center capital contribution: The commission approved authorizing the county manager to execute an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Albuquerque to provide the county’s capital contribution toward the Brillante Early Learning Center near Explora. Denise Benavides said the funds are bond‑proceeds restricted to capital costs; the facility is expected to open in fall 2026. Motion passed 5‑0.

- Consent agenda and other routine items: The consent agenda was approved 5‑0. A number of non‑controversial administrative matters were handled under that vote.

Items discussed (no vote required)

- Compliance Office biannual report: Chief Compliance Officer Rocky Gutierrez presented the biannual code of conduct and compliance office report. The office reported no sworn code‑of‑conduct complaints in the two quarters covered, multiple non‑code complaints referred to departments, and continued work on training videos and biannual employee code‑of‑conduct training. Housing appeal hearings and other administrative duties were described in the report.

Why this matters: The items approved on April 8 allocate existing revenues, reimbursements and bond proceeds to maintenance, housing administration, public safety and early‑childhood capital investments. Several approvals involve multi‑step processes — for example, HUD submission deadlines and vendor procurement for behavioral health services — that will require follow‑up by county staff.