APS Board approves $2.3 billion FY2027 budget; two members dissent over cuts to PE and classroom supports

The Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education on May 6 approved a $2.3 billion fiscal year 2027 budget that the administration said aligns district resources with board goals while covering a projected $16.1 million shortfall from reserves.

Superintendent Duran Blakey and the finance team presented the budget as a balanced plan that reflects a projected decline of 2,560 students, a state-mandated 1% salary increase and a shift to an 80% employer contribution for employee insurance. Chief financial staff and budget staff explained that revenue estimates, including an estimated SEG (state equalization) allocation of about $1.019 billion, combined with federal and other funds, produce a total operational plan of approximately $1.057 billion for the operating fund; the administration said the remaining shortfall will be covered through planned fund balance while maintaining the district’s required reserve.

Board members spent more than an hour questioning how the projections and allocation formula would affect counselors, elective staffing and smaller schools. Administration officials said counselors have not been cut districtwide but acknowledged vacancies and outlined strategies: a counseling residency pipeline in partnership with the Albuquerque Teacher Federation and the University of New Mexico, short-term differential pay to cover gaps, and ongoing efforts to recruit and retain certified staff.

Several public commenters, including students and PE teachers, had urged the board earlier in the meeting to protect physical education staffing. During debate, board member Rebecca Betson read a formal explanation for a no vote, saying the budget ‘‘reduces full time physical education teachers, librarians, school-based administrators, and classroom supports that directly impact students every day.’’ She also argued the budget approach risks starting some schools ‘‘in a skeleton mode’’ rather than fully staffed.

Betson said: "We cannot say these skills matter while simultaneously reducing the very programs that help develop them." Another board member expressed similar concerns about cuts tied to enrollment-based formulae.

Board members Jackson (mover) and Benavides (second) put the budget forward for approval. A roll-call vote followed: Janelle Estorga voted yes; Rebecca Betson voted no (recorded with an explanation); Heather Benavides voted yes; Orikia Bowman voted no; Courtney Jackson voted yes; and Renaldo Tomorito voted yes. The motion carried and the budget was approved.

The administration emphasized that the budget is tied to the district’s strategic priorities and guardrails and that staff will continue to monitor enrollment and school-level staffing needs, and to provide disaggregated data on student groups and counselor metrics upon request. The board directed staff to share certain counseling data and to continue work on recruitment, principal advisory councils and site-level strategies intended to show visible change in response to student feedback.

The board also approved a related notice of sale and delegation of authority for the district’s Series 2026A/B general obligation bonds earlier in the meeting. The budget adoption carries forward the district’s stated priorities while acknowledging both the fiscal constraints of declining enrollment and board members’ concerns about classroom impacts.

The board’s next steps include implementation monitoring, additional data-sharing with trustees on counselor coverage, and scheduled follow-ups on how specific site-level decisions will be communicated to communities.