Finance committee preliminarily approves Public Works budget after broad review of parks, streets, transit and deferred maintenance

Santa Fe — The Finance Committee heard an extended presentation on the Public Works Department’s operations, capital priorities and staffing needs on Monday, April 28, and moved to preliminarily approve the department’s FY26 budget following discussion of deferred maintenance, transit fleet needs and major capital projects.

Public Works Director Regina Wheeler opened the overview by emphasizing the department’s “feedback loop” approach: operations identify maintenance needs, those needs feed into asset-management planning, and capital construction funds are used to repair or replace deteriorated infrastructure. Wheeler and division leaders described recent and planned work at the golf course and MRC effluent irrigation system, median beautification designs, and the department’s use of one-time funds for pavement, fleet and equipment upgrades.

Why it matters: Public Works maintains the city’s roads, signals, parks, buildings and transit system. Committee members raised concerns about an extensive backlog of deferred maintenance across city facilities, aging transit vehicles, and the need to align capital planning, reporting and revenue sources to meet the city’s long-term needs.

Highlights and department priorities from the presentation…