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

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.