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Bernalillo County approves amended FY27'FY28 budget, applies 1% raise to classified employees and freezes select vacancies
Summary
After extended debate and floor amendments, the Bernalillo County Commission approved its FY27'FY28 biennial budget package April 28, adding a 1% classified-employee salary increase, targeted recurring funding for libraries and youth programs, and a vacancy freeze to realize about $6.8 million in recurring savings.
The Bernalillo County Commission approved its FY27'FY28 biennial budget April 28 after a series of amendments that shifted recurring and one-time funding and directed staff to pursue contract savings.
Budget Director Haley Kadish and County Manager Cindy Chavez presented an updated packet of responses to commissioners' earlier questions and walked the board through a proposed package of adjustments. Key changes adopted by the commission included a 1% across-the-board pay increase for classified employees, added recurring library funding and targeted program monies for youth and workforce initiatives, and a proposal to freeze funded vacant positions that total approximately $6.8 million in recurring savings for this cycle.
"We have to turn over every cushion and every stone," County Manager Cindy Chavez told the commission during the discussion, arguing that the organization must identify structural savings before considering new taxes. Budget staff said the county will send required notices to collective bargaining units about any proposed hiring-freeze changes.
Commissioner Phil Leas led the floor amendment that captured several of the adopted budget directions: the 1% classified-employee increase, recurring funding additions for libraries and youth programs (some one-time items were also approved), and the vacant-position savings strategy. Commissioners also directed the manager and county attorney to seek specific legal-contract savings and to pursue IT-contract renegotiations to control future escalators.
The board approved multiple motions that together revised the county's published numbers; staff will submit the final budget to the Department of Finance and Administration by the state's June 1 deadline.
What to expect next: the manager and department heads will return with implementation plans and reporting on savings and hiring plans; staff were also directed to provide further analysis on contract savings, apprenticeship opportunities and how to prioritize vacancies to align with critical operations.
