County Commission declares a fentanyl crisis emergency

Commissioners agreed to let the fentanyl emergency declaration be changed and adopted at the same meeting it was introduced, and to hear it just before the jail health care discussion.

A proclamation sponsored by Chair Barboa was put off to Nov. 10.

A proclamation sponsored by Commissioner Barbara Baca was presented.

A proclamation sponsored by Commissioner Benson marked the Rail Runner's 20th anniversary.

After a public hearing, states the county's intent to issue up to $25,000,000 in project revenue bonds to finance 144 apartments with rents set for households at 30% to 70% of area median income. Sponsored by Commissioner Barbara Baca.

For you: Renters seeking lower-cost housing.

After a public hearing, states the county's intent to approve a property tax exemption for a 144-unit, fully affordable workforce apartment project in Northwest Albuquerque, with rents at 60% to 120% of area median income. Sponsored by Commissioner Benson.

For you: Renters in Northwest Albuquerque.

After a public hearing, states the county's intent to approve a property tax exemption for a 171-unit, fully affordable workforce housing project in Northwest Albuquerque, with rents at 74% to 91% of area median income. Sponsored by Commissioner Benson.

For you: Renters in Northwest Albuquerque.

Accepts and budgets a $500,000.00 U.S. Department of Justice grant for Sheriff's Office technology upgrades.

Accepts and budgets a $1,042,000.00 U.S. Department of Justice grant to buy law enforcement vehicles and equipment.

Declares Bernalillo County in a state of emergency over the fentanyl crisis, gives the County Manager emergency management powers and asks the State of New Mexico for help. Sponsored by Chair Barboa and Commissioner Barbara Baca.

For you: All county residents.

Reappoints Ashley Charzuk as the peer support and lived-experience member of the Addiction Treatment Advisory Board.

Adds $234,325,443 in revenue and $239,398,866 in spending to the budget year ending June 2027, based on balances as of June 30, 2026. This includes $51,390,780 in General Fund prior-year commitments and $188,008,086 in other funds. It also lets the County Manager seek repayment to the General Fund when a project later gets other money, such as grants or bonds.

For you: All county residents; this is how county money is set for the year.

Adopts the county's list of 2027 capital outlay priorities. The record does not list the projects.

For you: Residents near any project on the list.

Approves the minutes of the Sept. 22 administrative meeting.

Reappoints Kevin Banks (basketball), Mike Foote (business community development) and William "Bill" Blair (football) to the Youth Sports Commission.

Hires Ardham Technologies Inc. and Speridian Technologies LLC for information technology consulting and allows spending above the County Manager's $300,000 signing limit. The record does not give a total.

Buys existing artworks from artists Esteban Duran and Antonio Martinez for a total of $4,650.00 from the county's 1.5% for Art budget.

Approves a countywide price agreement with Bob Barker Company, Inc. for inmate and resident clothing. The record does not give a cost.

Staff presented a plan to change how medical care is run at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Proposed steps for Oct. 27: pick a care model and add staff positions, keep access to the state risk pool, ask the state to use $30,000,000 from the county's three-month reserve and lower the reserve to two months, and seek state money for the change, a reentry campus and addiction medication treatment.

For you: People held at the jail and taxpayers.