Albuquerque District 4 City Councilor Brook Bassan announced on March 13 a legislative package aimed at modernizing city infrastructure, supporting the municipal workforce, and reducing costs for residents. The proposal is scheduled for a final vote at the City Council meeting on Monday, March 16.
The initiative centers around O-26-16, the Community Enhancement Municipal Gross Receipts Tax, co-sponsored by Councilors Brook Bassan and Joaquin Baca. This measure would generate about $113 million annually to fund improvements across Albuquerque. Two companion measures are included to ensure accountability and immediate action: R-26-13 (the Operational Lockbox) reserves half of the revenue for municipal operations with strict oversight requirements, while O-26-21 (the Infrastructure Engine) authorizes up to $360 million in bonds for large-scale projects.
“When we underpay the people who keep our city functional, the cost is ultimately paid by the residents through long wait times and closed facilities,” said Councilor Brook Bassan. “By raising wages for our most underpaid employees and authorizing these bonds, we aren’t just being fair; we are ensuring that Albuquerque has the modern facilities and the qualified professionals needed to run them. This isn’t about giving the administration a blank check—it is about a fiduciary ‘lockbox’ and a roadmap for building a city that can sustain itself for the next generation.”
The plan targets three main areas: addressing wage misalignment among frontline workers to reduce vacancies in essential services; lowering fees at public amenities such as pools, golf courses, museums, BioPark, and permitting services; and funding overdue maintenance as well as new construction of municipal buildings and parks. “Albuquerque is at a turning point,” Bassan said. “We can continue watching our libraries and roads age faster than we can fix them, or we can make the deliberate choice to invest in our own future. This measure ensures that our tax dollars stay local, are distributed equitably across every district, and finally provide the high-quality services our residents deserve.”
The City of Albuquerque has played an important role as a cultural landmark through venues like the KiMo Theatre—known for its Pueblo Deco architecture—which has hosted community gatherings since 1927 according to its official history page. The city’s government operates under a council structure where members elect leadership annually to guide meetings as described on its official website. The council’s responsibilities include setting goals, approving budgets, and maintaining a merit system according to council records.
Albuquerque’s influence extends across nine geographic districts shaped by historical developments such as the arrival of the railroad as noted in city timelines. The proposed legislation aims to address both longstanding maintenance needs and future growth throughout these districts.
