Commission approves FY‑26 Q2 budget adjustments, shifts ARPA interest to clerk facility

Bernalillo County commissioners approved four fiscal adjustments during the Jan. 13 meeting to reconcile prior‑year bond activity, add operating funds for the speed‑enforcement program, allocate general‑obligation bond interest and move ARPA investment earnings to the general fund.

Budget Director Jackie Sanchez presented the package of motions. Key items included a $318,546 reduction to reconcile parks and recreation bond balances; a $2,000,000 reappropriation into the speed‑enforcement operating budget (to cover state revenue share and identified intersection projects such as 2nd Street & Paseo and Concordshire/Condenshire); a $1,416,404 appropriation for GO bond interest allocations; and a proposed transfer of $3,442,155 in ARPA interest to the general fund to serve as gap funding for clerk voting‑warehouse renovations.

Commissioners sought clarifications about how the speed‑enforcement revenue is shared with the state and which projects the $2 million would fund. County traffic and operations staff explained that roughly half of the gross revenue is directed to the state after program expenses are deducted; the requested increase covers projects and the county’s projected share to the state. Staff said they are pursuing state‑level changes to retain a greater portion of revenues for local use.

Why it matters: the adjustments reconcile prior fiscal activity and move interest earnings to cover specific capital needs without increasing ongoing general‑fund obligations. Commissioners noted the importance of a stable funding stream for road and safety projects and discussed long‑term revenue strategies.