Bernalillo County asks state lawmakers for capital outlay for senior housing, detention center, animal shelter and sports complex

A Bernalillo County official asked state lawmakers and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham during remarks at the state capitol to advance several capital outlay requests, including a 40‑unit affordable housing project for seniors at Sixth and Cole in downtown Albuquerque, renovations to county‑owned housing, upgrades to the Metropolitan Detention Center and expansion of the county animal care center.

One urgent project, the official said, is “the development of a 40 unit affordable housing project for seniors. This project is on Sixth And Cole, Downtown Albuquerque within Bernalillo County, and we are here to move that request forward.” The county also described two capital‑alley projects, one of which focuses on upgrading and renovating housing owned by the county to “maintain the dignity and quality of life for our individuals and seniors who live in these” units.

The county sought funding to support the Mesa del Sol Regional Sports Complex, saying the project would create opportunities for youth and draw tournaments from outside New Mexico. The official said the complex is “a great opportunity for the youth in our community, but also benefit for the entire state of New Mexico as it draws in people in, tournaments from outside the state.”

On facility upgrades, the official said the county is asking for $2,300,000,000 in capital funding for the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) to cover two specific needs: replacing outdated cell‑door food‑pass portals and replacing aging boilers that have reached the end of their lifespan. The official characterized the funding request as covering “two critical upgrades.”

Addressing animal services, the official said the county’s shelter is “bursting at the seams,” and requested an additional $1,000,000 in capital outlay funding to support a major expansion of the animal care center to “meet the shelter's growing needs and serve all of our animals like Jody and the families that need help to keep their pets.”

The official repeatedly thanked county partners and state lawmakers and noted sponsors in both the House and Senate who are carrying the county’s proclamation and requests. “We can't do anything we do without the partnerships that we have, and our state lawmakers and governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, are key to that,” the official said.

None of the funding requests had a legislative outcome recorded in the remarks. The county’s requests described here are subject to consideration and appropriation by the New Mexico Legislature and any applicable executive approvals. Sponsors in the House and Senate were mentioned as supporting the proclamation and the county’s push for the requested capital outlay funds.