Summer plans are about to get more expensive with Mayor Tim Keller’s proposed budget seeking more money from golfers, swimmers and animal lovers.
The mayor’s proposed budget is $23.7 million higher than last year’s budget of $1.37 billion. Almost $2 million of that will come from proposed fee hikes on some of the city’s most popular family activities.
At the ABQ BioPark, which includes the zoo, aquarium and botanic garden, the mayor would like to increase admission by $2 for adult tickets for New Mexico residents and $1 for children aged 3-12. Out-of-state visitors would each pay $5 more.
Daily admission at most city pools currently ranges from $1 for kids ages 2 to 5 to $3 for swimmers aged 18 to 54. At the East San Jose Swimming Pool, the cost is 75 cents to $1.50. The proposed budget includes a 50-cent increase for all swimmers, though it would not be applied to swim lessons.
BioPark and pool fees were last raised in 2017.
At that time, the BioPark admission went up by $1 for New Mexicans and $2 for nonresidents. Those hikes came after the City Council rejected a fee increase in 2012.
The golf fee hike of $2 per round was approved for 2021-2022, but never implemented because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the budget notes.
Data point FY 2022 FY 2023 Mid-Year FY 2024 Proposed FY2025 Annual attendance at the BioPark 1,188,388 1,120,104 547,133 1,350,000 # of animal species at the BioPark 446 475 516 515 Total # of pool visits 355,027 383,332 132,510 380,000 # of rounds of golf played on City Courses 264,114 257,931 133,178 251,892
Mayor’s Office spokeswoman Ava Montoya said the increases are not expected to cause a significant change in attendance.
“The city is impacted by the same inflationary pressures that everyone is feeling,” she told City Desk ABQ Tuesday. “And in order to continue to support the laborers who ensure delivery of services and keep up with other costs associated with running our programs, some modest fee increases are necessary to increase revenue.”
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
WHEN: The next committee meeting to discuss the FY 2025 operating budget is at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 2.
WHERE: Vincent E. Griego Chambers on the basement level of the Albuquerque Government Center.
HOW: Public commenters must sign up by 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
VIRTUAL: The meetings are broadcast on GOV-TV and the City Council’s YouTube channel.
The golf courses are expected to be self-sustaining, according to the budget. That’s historically been the case, though the current budget estimated that current fees would cover 90% of their operating costs.
The proposed budget anticipates golfers will play 251,892 rounds, down from 266,356 projected for this fiscal year. The mid-year estimate is 133,178 rounds. According to the budget, 264,114 rounds were played in 2021-2022 and 257,931 in 2022-2023.
If the fees are adopted, according to the budget, the BioPark would bring in an additional $1,022,871, the golf courses $515,862 and aquatics $176,087.
City Councilor Joaquín Baca told City Desk ABQ that he wants to look at what is being proposed and why.
“As someone who has spent an enormous amount of time at the BioPark — especially when I had young kids — I’m not immediately in favor of raising those fees,” Baca said.
However, he added that he has seen the impact of inflation and conceded that the revenue from the fees could be needed.
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Oddly, Martineztown does not appear in the list of neighborhoods shown for comments about fee increases in the proposed budget. Why not?