Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget And Performance Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Santa Fe holds study session to launch citywide goals, KPIs and budget timeline
Summary
City department heads presented 68 goals, 292 objectives and 151 KPIs that will inform midyear reports and the FY27 budget; councilors pressed for realistic targets, stronger language access and a technology plan to support implementation.
Santa Fe held a study session to present a citywide set of strategic goals, objectives and key performance indicators that officials said will guide midyear reporting and feed into the FY27 budget process.
Deputy City Manager Phillips introduced the management-system framework as a tool to improve transparency and budget decisions, outlining a calendar that includes a Jan. 8 civic engagement session, a Jan. 23 council goal-setting workshop and an anticipated budget adoption in May. "This is kind of the kickoff to a year long budget process," Phillips said during the session.
The session featured presentations from 13 department heads and interim directors. Emily Oster, the finance director, said the finance department’s FY26 budget is slightly more than $26 million and emphasized a push to build a stronger documentation culture and modernize financial systems. "We are aiming to foster a human centered environment where our team members feel heard, valued, and empowered," Oster said.
Public utilities interim director Jesse Roach told the council the department expects annual revenues typically greater than $80 million and noted a wastewater rate increase that became effective in July, with a water rate proposal advancing through committees for a February effective date. "Our core goal is to meet all regulatory requirements for water, wastewater, and environmental services," Roach said.
Other highlights included a community development goal to advance at least five new affordable housing projects and distribute over $3,000,000 in CDBG and housing trust funds; the airport’s plan to increase non-aeronautical revenue 10–15%; and the fire department’s priority to update its risk assessment and pursue ISO 1 accreditation. Fire leadership presented response-time targets and a $34.7 million annual budget for the department.
Council members used the forum to press staff on implementation details and feasibility. One councilor criticized overly optimistic targets, pointing to the proposed aim that 100% of city facilities meet ADA standards by year end as a "heavy lift" requiring substantial funding. Deputy City Manager Phillips acknowledged the plan is an initial draft and said staff will develop baselines and refine targets before formal midyear reporting in January.
City Manager Mark Scott and other senior staff framed the work as iterative: staff will translate department goals into funding requests during the full budget cycle and present trade-offs for the governing body to weigh. Phillips also urged council members to send written comments to allow staff to adjust metrics and baselines.
No new ordinances or formal policy votes were taken during the study session; the only recorded action was a procedural voice vote to approve the meeting agenda at the start of the session. The presentations and council feedback will return to the governing body for further review in upcoming budget hearings and the January midyear updates.
The council recessed at about 6:00 p.m. and adjourned the study session to reconvene for a special governing body meeting at 7:00 p.m.
