Albuquerque Public Schools discusses nearly $2 billion budget for upcoming year
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Facing higher costs, fewer students, and a shake-up in federal funding from Washington D.C., Albuquerque Public Schools is figuring out how it's going to budget more than $2 billion in expenses over the next year.
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'We have come a long way in a year but we have come a long way but this is just the beginning,' said Gabriella Blakey, APS superintendent.
That's how Albuquerque Public School leaders are describing their next budget, as APS continues to face a wide range of challenges from costs to how many students are part of their schools. 'We still face challenges like our declining enrollment, a trend that we are seeing across the country,' said Gabriella Blakey, APS superintendent.
APS is projecting an enrollment of about 65,000 students for 2026. With state funding determined by the number of students, an enrollment drop means less money. District officials expect this year's budget to be similar to the last, roughly 2.1 billion. APS is also projecting an increase in the State Equalization Guarantee, which will help fund a four-percent pay hike for all employees.
Ahead of a final vote on the budget, some board members are worried about potential federal funding impacts under the trump administration. 'There's so much influx right now, it's hard to, there's so many buckets,' said Josefina E. Domínguez, APS Board of Education member.
However, APS administrators say so far, they're not worried about any losses to federal dollars. Other key issues, including putting more focus on program evaluations this upcoming fiscal year, and if a program isn't working, top administrators said that's where the district should consider faster changes. 'We need to be bold and we need to be able to say that we are going to strategically abandon some of those initiatives,' said Dr. Antonio Gonzales, Deputy Superintendent for Leadership & Learning, APS.
The Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the final budget early next month. Right now, they're on track to use nearly $5 million in reserves to cover some of their costs.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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