Timothy M. Keller, Mayor
City of Albuquerque
Office of the Mayor/ chief administrative office
Interoffice Memorandum
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to: |
City COUncil |
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from: |
Timothy M. Keller, Mayor |
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subject: |
Line Item Veto Of R-22-91 Adjusting Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations For Certain Funds And Programs To Provide For Actual Expenditures; Adjusting Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Appropriations; And Appropriating Capital Funds |
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date: |
March 8, 2023 |
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title
Line Item Veto Of R-22-91 Adjusting Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations For Certain Funds And Programs To Provide For Actual Expenditures; Adjusting Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Appropriations; And Appropriating Capital Funds
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After careful review of R-22-91, I am exercising my line-item veto authority on Section 10 restricting the use of budget savings from April 1, 2023 to June 20, 2023 to personnel costs. This language was offered by my Administration as an alternative to the proposed amendment to Section 7 reserving $12,000,000 in the General Fund in Fiscal Year 2023 from estimated personnel and operational savings, working capital balance and/or additional revenues for Fiscal Year 2023. However, the two competing amendments when combined would severely limit our ability to close out the year and effectively deliver expected services and programs.
I have tremendous respect for the separation of powers in the City Charter, including the Council’s appropriating duty, and the executive’s responsibility to work within the budget and run the City consistent with that approved budget. We believe that these two amendments when combined, infringe upon that separation of powers fundamental to the executive’s responsibility to administer and implement the provisions in the broader Fiscal Year 2023 budget ordinance. My Administration is committed to presenting a balanced budget in FY24 and will continue to comply with relevant budget law. Based on the recently submitted five-year forecast, I believe the forecasted deficit can be adequately addressed through prudent program reviews and reductions; and will still allow for modest increased investment in some priority operations.
I hereby exercise my line item veto authority and apply it to Section 10 of R-22-91. I look forward to working with Council to make sure our city priorities the most pressing issues including crime, homelessness and maintaining our city’s basic services.