7 days ago
Santa Fe County commissioners adopt $305 million interim budget
Santa Fe County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a roughly $305 million interim budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The budget invests in county employees, said County Manager Greg Shaffer, and includes $665,644 to hire six new sheriff's deputies. After the state approves the interim budget, which is due June 1, it will come back to county commissioners, who can tweak it before voting to pass a final budget in July. The final budget will also include capital and maintenance budgets, which weren't addressed on Tuesday.
Commissioners have been holding budget hearings with county departments this month, and the $305 million budget total is likely to grow. This month, Shaffer said potential rollovers from the current budget not included in the sum could total as much as $68.1 million. Commissioners are expected to take up a rollover budget adjustment resolution in September.
Commissioners unanimously approved a $347 million interim budget in May 2024 for the current fiscal year. Ultimately, the budget for the 2025 fiscal year was adjusted to $355 million, county spokesperson Olivia Romo wrote in an email.
In a recent interview, Shaffer said the rollover amounts make it difficult to evaluate whether the county's overall budget for the next fiscal year will be higher or lower than this year.
"Due to the uncertainty of the rollover amount (described previously), we cannot provide you with a definitive percentage," Romo wrote in an email Tuesday. "After the rollover is budgeted in September, we anticipate the FY2026 operating budget (excluding transfers and capital and maintenance projects) to be 0% to 5% above the FY2025 operating budget (excluding transfers and capital and maintenance projects)."
According to a county document, departments with significant budgets include the sheriff's office at $22.7 million, the County Manager's Office $34.9 million, and the Corrections Department at $28.7 million. The County Manager's Office — which includes the Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology divisions — is responsible for preparing the budget and providing the commission with the information needed to make decisions.
Commissioners approved the interim budget after about five minutes of discussion, thanking county administration for the new deputy positions.
"This is a concern for all of our constituents. I think we all hear it," said Commissioner Justin Greene.
The budget is also expected to include previously allocated funds for the development of a youth behavioral health services facility that will bring scattered providers under one roof. Currently, the county is identifying locations for at least a 20,000-square-foot facility with $7.3 million in dedicated funding.
The interim budget includes $120,000 for trauma-informed training and planning services for county employees.
"[I want] to also thank the county manager and the Community Services Department for considering the suggestion for trauma-informed training and consultation, and I think it's really going to help us," said Commissioner Lisa Cacari Stone.
The proposed budget also includes funds for pay raises for both union and nonunion employees, as well as funds for collective bargaining negotiations with the Santa Fe Regional Emergency Communications Center and AFSCME 1413-M bargaining units, which represents medical employees at the jail.
