By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Homeowners and outdoor enthusiasts packed Tuesday’s Bernalillo County Commission meeting to voice concerns over Sandia Pueblo’s plan they worry could result in losing federal protections and road access on the Sandia Mountains’ western slopes recreations areas. Dozens of Sandias for All coalition members spoke against a proposal to transfer […]
Category: Bernalillo County
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No campaign finance vote this fall: Here’s what Bernalillo County is doing instead
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Bernalillo County voters will not see proposed changes to the public campaign finance system on the November ballot after county commissioners withdrew the measures to allow more time for study instead of rushing a complex proposal to voters. On Tuesday, the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a […]
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Should taxpayers fund campaigns? Bernalillo County vote could send question to voters
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Voters in Bernalillo County may get a chance to decide this November whether their tax dollars should help fund campaigns for county offices. The Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing and final vote Tuesday, Aug. 11, on three companion measures. The package would place a […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Bernalillo County, Environment, Conservation & Climate, Local Government, NM.news
Bosque cleanup hauls off 16 tons of debris near Rio Bravo
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Mattresses, tents and scorched brush piled up along the Rio Grande this month as crews worked through Burque’s Bosque between Rio Bravo Boulevard and Interstate 40, clearing fire hazards from the river corridor during a historically dry summer. The third annual, multiagency cleanup wrapped up this week after crews […]
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How Bernalillo County plans to add $10 million to infrastructure without raising taxes
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Bernalillo County faces a $400 million backlog of capital projects but plans to ask voters to approve just $45 million in bonds. At that rate, Commissioners Barbara Baca and Eric Olivas said the county will never catch up. To speed up the process, they gained support from the rest […]
Posted inBernalillo County, Elections & Politics, Opinion & Analysis
Opinion: County’s fast-tracked public financing bill isn’t ready for November ballot
At the last Bernalillo County Commission Meeting, June 27th, one of my fellow commissioners introduced an Administrative Resolution establishing the process by which the county will design an elections ordinance to provide voluntary public financing for qualifying county candidates which was approved by four commissioners. Walt Benson is a Bernalillo County Commissioner representing District 4. […]
Posted inBernalillo County, Elections & Politics, Local Government
Should voters fund campaigns for county officials? Voters will get to decide this November
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Bernalillo County residents will get to decide in November whether their tax dollars should help fund county campaigns — a move commissioners say is aimed squarely at kneecapping the influence of big donors and corporate PACs. The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously June 23, to advance a package […]
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After years of issues at MDC, Bernalillo County adds a new piece to the healthcare puzzle
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — For years, Bernalillo County has poured millions of dollars into fixing healthcare at the Metropolitan Detention Center, bringing in a new medical provider and overhauling its behavioral health system. Despite millions of dollars in new investments, turbulence continues at MDC. The facility has cycled through three wardens since 2022 […]
Posted inBernalillo County, Local Government
BernCo balanced its budget, expands free programs without raising taxes
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — For Bernalillo County families already stretched by rising costs, the new county budget aims to lighten the load, with no tax hikes and more free programming at community centers. Faced with an $8.5 million budget gap, county leaders balanced the $857.7 million budget without raising taxes or cutting services, […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Bernalillo County, Local Government
Planning for the 4th of July? What you need to know about ABQ’s fireworks rule
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — As Burqueños prepare to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial — the United States’ 250th birthday — they’ll have to navigate Albuquerque’s rules on what fireworks can legally be set off in their neighborhoods. Recent wildfires across New Mexico and within city limits may have firefighters on alert, but city fire […]