District 6 City Councilor Nichole L. Rogers introduced on May 11 a legislative package aimed at modernizing the administration and distribution of Albuquerque’s Public Safety Tax. The proposals, presented through Ordinance O-26-31 and Resolution R-26-29, are intended to update the tax framework first established in 2004 by increasing transparency and oversight while reflecting changes in the city’s public safety model.
The legislation does not propose an increase in the current tax rate but seeks to clarify how existing funds from the one-fourth of one percent tax should be used. It aims to ensure that voter-approved resources are aligned with current safety needs across Albuquerque.
Ordinance O-26-31 would require detailed program-level reporting on expenditures, including objectives and performance measures, to be presented to the Public Safety Tax Advisory Board. The ordinance also empowers this board to define written parameters for eligible programs and allows funds to be administered by various departments such as Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS), provided they meet specific requirements.
Resolution R-26-29 proposes a ballot question for voters during the November 3 General Election. If approved, it would officially include ACS and City Code Enforcement within public safety funding allocations: police and fire/emergency preparedness would each receive 35%, ACS would receive 25%, and code enforcement would receive 5%. Crime prevention and corrections funding would be integrated into these categories rather than remaining separate as before.
“Our approach to public safety has evolved significantly since 2004,” said Councilor Nichole L. Rogers. “With the addition of ACS as a third branch of our first-response system and the vital role Code Enforcement plays in preventing hazardous conditions, our tax allocations must reflect the reality of how we keep Burqueños safe today. This is about making sure every cent of the Public Safety Tax is working effectively, transparently, and in line with what the community expects.”
Rogers said an educational campaign led by the City Clerk will inform residents that this measure updates an existing tax rather than introducing a new one or raising rates. If passed by both councilors and voters, changes will take effect July 1, 2027.
The City of Albuquerque operates under a council structure where members elect leadership annually; its government establishes goals for local governance while maintaining historic venues like KiMo Theatre that serve as cultural landmarks for community gatherings according to its official website.
